Burnley...1 Crewe...0

CREWE were left to rue several missed chances after crashing to their second defeat of the season at Turf Moor.

Burnley will feel they did enough to claim all three points and certainly shaded the possession stakes but Dario Gradi's boys will be gutted with their finishing.

Steve Jones (twice) and sub Allan Smart both blew close range efforts in the final 25 minutes as the Alex carved the home side apart in the latter stages.

Jonah almost gave Crewe a dream start in the opening two minutes, fooling last man David May on a mazy run only to drag his shot wide of the post.

High tempo stuff, Burnley were on the offence almost immediately with a dangerous move between Robbie Blake and Ian Moore before Rix led the charge down the other end.

He set up Vaughan for an effort which went over.

End to end action finally settled down as the home side began to establish dominance, Ince called into action to keep out Camara on 16 minutes.

This time May did get the better of Jones on the break and the lively looking Richard Chaplow served notice of his intentions, bypassing Moses and blasting just over.

Lunt opened up Burnley twice as the half came to a close but Ashton failed to get both his shot and header on target.

The Clarets went straight for the jugular on the whistle and ultimately it paid off.

Ince did well to keep out Chadwick but could do nothing to stop the home side taking the lead on 51 minutes.

Dean West picked out the on-loan Man U player who fired in a cross that went straight through the Alex defence and onto the boot of Chaplow who tapped home from short-range.

It could have got far worse two minutes later as lineman Nicholson was the only one to see Ashton handle the ball when dealing with a corner.

A harsh spot-kick, Ince made sure it didn't count with a spectacular dive to his right to deny Robbie Blake.

Bizarrely, Crewe should have had one of their own just three minutes later when Chaplow clattered Brammer in the box but the referee waved away appeals, the skipper was furious.

Sparked into life, the Alex took the fight to Burnley and a fine 1-2 between Jones and Ashton should have produced the leveller but with just keeper Jensen to beat, the Northern Ireland International saw his shot whack the foot of the post.

With the home side looking more and more intent on hanging on, Crewe went for it in the last 10.

Jones was about an inch away from making contact with Lunt's wicked cross and superb work from Brammer delivered an equally decent ball, again sub Allan Smart made a Gazza-esque lunge at it but to no avail.

Crewe were lacking a predator on the day, their finishing has to get better.

Crewe: Ince, Wright, Vaughan, Moses (McCready 70), Foster, Brammer, Cochrane (Sorvel 71), Lunt, Rix (Smart 78), Jones, Ashton.

Subs not used: Bankole, Walker.

Attendance - 11,495.

Guardian Man-of-the-Match: Dave Brammer - Gave it his all.