ALEX boss Dario Gradi has slammed his side for their performance at Stockport despite picking up a vital away point.

Gradi said Crewe had fought hard to earn a 1-1 draw at Edgeley Park on Saturday, but said it was undeserved.

"I thought we were awful. Until the last 10 minutes we didn't play," he said.

"Jason Kearton was magnificent and Shaun Smith did well but Stockport's trio in midfield absolutely slaughtered us.

"We couldn't cope with them at corners and they got too many free headers. That's a major problem and we can't continue with that."

But Gradi admitted that there was no lack of effort from his young outfit.

"Having said all that they did battle well and they were blocking and having a go, but they didn't play intelligently. It's the worst we have played that I can remember," he said.

"We played well the other night against Palace and got nothing from it, but we played nowhere near that today and we got a point."

The Alex return to Gresty Road on Saturday to face a quality Bolton side which hammered last week's league leaders Birmingham City 3-1 on Saturday.

Gradi admitted his side would have to step up a gear for the clash, though his starting line-up will still be ravaged by injuries.

"We won't do any worse than we did on Saturday," he said.

"Bolton have some good players but that's what we are in this league for, to play against good players. We have some good players as well, we just have to try and get them to play more often."

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