MANAGER Dario Gradi defended his spirited side after Crewe Alex let a goal lead slip to lose at home to Sheffield United.

The Railwaymen deserved to win with a passionate performance that at times threatened to overpower the Blades, but they eventually lost to a scrambled strike in injury time.

Speaking after the game Gradi said: "The players feel they were cruelly robbed and I don't feel like criticising them.

"There's nothing wrong with the way we are playing. We made a poor mistake for the first goal and we know that's our Achilles heel. We can't keep a clean sheet because we are not quite good enough.

"If we make enough chances like that we should win the game, but you can say what you like about mistakes and chances, it's just bad luck that we didn't win."

Crewe's ever-changing defence will be re-arranged again for the trip to Barnsley on Saturday with Marcus Bignot likely to return after overcoming a chest infection and Dave Walton returning from suspension.

One sour note will be the ommission of captain Shaun Smith, who injured his back in the battle with the Blades on Saturday.

The impressive David Wright looks set to continue at right back with Bignot taking Smith's place on the left and Walton replacing Mark Foran in the centre.

Gradi said he would be talking to midfield star Phil Charnock over the renewal of his contract this week.

"We have spoken to him and we will have another chat to see if he really does want to stay, and if he does we'll try and work something out," he said.

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