BOSS Dario Gradi drew hope from Crewe's second-half performance against Derby as they fight to retain their Championship status

Tuesday night's 2-1 defeat against the Rams means there'll be no easy ride to the end of the season.

With Rotherham now gone, any two from the bottom ten could join them in League One come August.

Trips to Millwall and relegation rivals Gillingham are next, followed by what could be a crunch derby against Stoke on St George's Day, April 23.

Crewe will hope they don't need a repeat of a famous upset at promotion-chasing Ipswich before a final home clash with struggling Coventry on May 8.

"The performance in the second half has given me hope," explained Gradi.

"In the first half they looked a class above but in the second half they weren't and it was a real shame that we gave them that second goal so easily.

"I've never seen Vaughany do that before and I don't expect he will do it again. I thought we had the better of the second half.

"We had them under pressure and Jonah had a great chance but he just can't seem to find that composure in front of goal.

"Vaughany gave us a chance with a wonder goal and we had two more chances afterwards.

"It would have been a wonderful comeback but it wasn't to be."

Spirit was there in the second 45 and now the Alex need luck.

"We could just do with a bit of luck," he added.

"Maybe we used up a lot in that run we went on because we never outplayed anyone.

"But in the second half, we didn't look like a side that belongs down there.

"We looked like a side full of spirit and the players keep going.

"Although we don't look as dangerous as we did earlier in the season, we're still creating chances."