Crewe’s hopes of securing a play-off spot were hit when two late goals from Jordan Thomas and Liam Dulson earned Cheltenham a 3-2 win at Gresty Road.
George Miller registered his first goal in 10 games to hand the Robins a 22nd-minute lead. Ryan Haynes squandered the chance to double the visitors’ lead 10 minutes later when he blasted his penalty against the bar and Crewe were level just before the break when Kane Hemmings made sure with the game’s second penalty award.
But Lee Bell’s side were unimpressive at the back as Cheltenham ended a run of four consecutive defeats with Thomas and Dulson scoring late on before Alex substitute Calum Agius grabbed a consolation with almost the last kick of the game.
Miller’s header inside the six-yard box flew into the net off the turf for the opener which was made possible by some excellent work by Arkell Jude-Boyd who tore past his marker to deliver a telling cross over the goalmouth.
Crewe were in more trouble when referee Declan Bourne adjudged Lewis Billington to have handled a high cross into the area, but Haynes thumped his penalty kick against the bar.
A trip by Tommy Backwell on Hemmings saw Crewe level with the veteran striker blasting the spot kick down the middle past Joe Day (45).
Poor defending saw Crewe fall behind again in the 78th minute when substitute Valintino Adedokun drove the ball back across the box and Thomas squeezed a far-post finish from a tight angle.
Substitute Dulson cut infield and drove home a super finish off the far post from 25 yards out to kill the game in the 86th minute before youngster Agius hit an angled drive home just before the whistle.
Bell tells Crewe players he expects more from them
Crewe boss Lee Bell told his players he expects more from them after a sixth home defeat of the campaign left Alex with an uphill battle to secure a play-off place.
Bell was livid after a tepid display from his side saw Cheltenham, who had lost on their previous four outings, claim a 3-2 victory to leave Crewe four points adrift of the top seven.
Bell said: “I’m really clear about what I need to do to move this club forward. The players have got to understand what they’ve done and what has got us in the position we are in. I’ve asked them to come and see me if they feel they’ve not got what we need to get there.
“I didn’t see enough effort out there, although they might also have been lacking a bit of confidence. We’ve lost six games at homes and some of them have not been narrow defeats.
“I fully appreciate how the fans will feel and I will stand and take the flak that is coming my way, but some of the players have to take responsibility – we’ve got senior players on the pitch.
“It needs to be made clear to the players as I am clear what I am going to do next season. It’s got to be a lot better than that.”
Crewe’s play-off push has been tailing off for several weeks now with just one win in eight games.
Cheltenham assistant manager Aaron Downes said: “We had done everything we needed to do away from home in the first half and at half-time the boys knew there was a game to be won.
“We showed our capabilities in the second half when the game got stretched.
“Credit to the subs who came on as they did a super job. I was pleased for Liam Dulson. We were speaking to Arkell Jude-Boyd about his crossing this week and his delivery and work rate was superb.
“He put in some really dangerous crosses and George got on the end of one them. And despite his penalty miss Ryan Haynes was excellent tonight.”
