Little Consolation For Gradi

After watching his side become the first this season to score three goals in a league game against Reading, Crewe boss Dario Gradi took little consolation.

The latest defeat means that Crewe have now lost seven games on the bounce although they did give Reading a few nervy moments along the way with an inspirational performance from Luke Rodgers and goals from Lee Bell, Gareth Taylor and Kenny Lunt.

Gradi told the Staffordshire Sentinel: ‘It isn’t in itself consolation. The consolation is that the players were good.

‘They did well apart from the mistakes we made and the central defenders found it hard because their front two were lively.

‘Luke was inspirational more than good, but he was good also,’ he added.

‘He inspired the crowd with his effort and application. He looked a decent player and a lot of people have doubted he can make the step up technically.’