CREWE'S relegation fears intensified after this defeat to play-off chasing Derby County at the Alexandra Stadium on Tuesday Night.

It's getting perilously close now with Dario Gradi's side just two points clear of the drop zone after 15 games without victory.

Grzegorz Rasiak headed the visitors in front during yet another dire Alex first-half while a probable comeback was effectively over when Tommy Smith seized on Vaughan's shocking back-pass.

The Welshman tried to make amends with a last-minute wonder goal and only Lee Camp's stunning save denied Steve Jones from snatching a point.

It was too little too late.

Crewe must string 90 minutes together at least twice in their five remaining games to be sure of safety.

If's and but's are useless now; it's up to this crop of players to get us out of a hole and they better buck their ideas up.

Supporters and the manager's faith deserve better.

The same 11 started in the same way they did against Forest although it could have all been different if Jones had beaten keeper Lee Camp to a weighted ball from Vaughan on 3 minutes.

Derby dominated attacking aspects from then on, albeit mostly wild long-ranges at Ben Williams's goal.

Smith blazed high with Adam Bolder next to try his luck with a dipping effort that ended up just over.

Signs were ominous when Anthony Tonkin got caught in possession and although Williams scrambled away efforts from Morten Bisgaard and Marcus Tudgay, Derby scored from the resulting corner.

Influential Spaniard Inigo Idiakez swung it in for Rasiak to header over the top of Lunt on the line after 16 minutes.

Any Alex response appeared confined to free-kicks with both McCready and Moses close from Lunt deliveries.

Tudgay whipped a sitter over the top with Idiakez's effort going the same way while Chris Makin fired straight at Williams.

As annoying as pleasing, Crewe were revitalised once again after the break, playing with more vigour and more quality.

Luke Varney made Camp work almost instantly while Murdock went close to burying Vaughan's free-kick on the volley.

Despite more mix-ups between Williams and the defence, Crewe continued to cause Derby problems and Vaughan glided through theirs before his strike agonisingly brushed the far post on 55 minutes.

Jones looked to have a decent penalty claim under Michael Johnson's challenge that left the culprit in a heap and requiring treatment while Murdock's goalbound attempt from the resulting corner was well blocked.

Lunt curled a free-kick wide while the Alex should have made more of a real break when Johnson's clearance fell at the feet of Jonah but he blasted well wide of the mark.

With an equaliser in sight, Crewe were shattered by Vaughan's suicidal back-pass which Smith latched onto and slotted past Williams on 75 minutes.

It appeared game over but the Alex mustered some fight, sent into overdrive with the Welshman's spectacular volley that looped over Camp and into the top corner.

The Derby keeper denied Jones with a point-blank save in injury time as Crewe rallied to no avail.

Four months without a home win, how important will that Stoke game be in two weeks time?

Crewe: Williams, Moses, Tonkin, Murdock, McCready, Bell (White 73), Lunt, Sorvel, Vaughan, Varney, S Jones.

Subs not used: Tomlinson, Walker, Cochrane, Rivers. Attendance - 8,026.

Guardian man-of-the-match: Luke Varney - worked hard with little service.