STEVEN Pressley has apologised to over 1,000 Sky Blues fans who made the trip to Crewe and watched their side fall to a 2-1 defeat at League One’s basement boys.
Crewe had only won one out of 11 league games so far this season heading into Saturday’s match and had scored just eight goals.
But Febian Brandy and George Cooper gave Steve Davies’ side a 2-0 lead at Gresty Road and despite pulling one back shortly after the break through an Anthony Grant own goal, Pressley’s side slipped to their fourth defeat in six matches.
“There are no excuses, games like this are must win,” said Pressley. “It is my responsibility to ensure we start winning these games.
“The first half was poor, I was disappointed with certain aspects, but not our work ethic. We didn’t win enough 50-50’s, we have to do better at that aspect of our game.
“In the second half we were much better and we imposed ourselves on the game. With the way we played then, we really should have got something from today.
“This is a massive football club with an always excellent travelling support. They deserve better than the results they are getting at the moment.
“We have to make sure that these results improve. We will get better, and we will continue to work hard on and off the field until that happens.”
To make matters worse academy graduate Jack Finch was sent off on his full league debut late in the second period.
Finch, who has been labelled as a potential star for the future by Pressley, received two yellow cards but did not come under fire from his manager who also praised the performance of stand-in skipper Jordan Willis.
Pressley added: “Jack is a young player, and up until the sending off he played well.
“It is disappointing, for us as well as him, but I am sure he will learn from it.
“What happened on Saturday was a learning curve, and it is about how he recovers from this setback, as he played well, as did Jordan (Willis).
“Jordan was great in his role. He really typifies everything that I want to see in the players at this football club and if we all keep this ideal in mind then things will soon start to get better.”
