DEFEAT HARD TO TAKE ADMITS CREWE ALEX MANAGER ARTELL

DAVID Artell said Crewe Alex did not deserve their heartbreaking FA Cup exit at the hands of Carlisle United. A 90th-minute calamity between keeper Ben Garratt and defender Kevin O’connor allowed Jamie Devitt to bundle the ball over the line at Gresty Road. It was the only goal of the game and means it is three straight defeats for the Railwaymen. Manager Artell said: “I don’t think we deserved it, we were the better team throughout. “They were restricted to long range shots and had a very dubious penalty. “The amount of times we got the ball round the box in the second half and not pulled the trigger, or not put the ball where we’ve practiced, was frighteningly high. “We didn’t deserve what just happened but that’s football. “We controlled the game for long periods but if you don’t take your chances, then make a catastrophic mistake, you get what you deserve. “Football is not always fair. We’ve worked all week on things and got into the positions we practiced, but it’s all ifs and buts. “It should have been a comfortable victory but it turns into a disastrous 1-0 defeat. “We had plenty of chances to score goals. “Taking the chances is a different matter. “I don’t think anyone can say we weren’t the better team, but it’s the result that matters. “There was a lot of money riding on it, that’s the biggest thing. We should have won it, but we will keep working on it. “We looked far better in possession, and all the front four had chances. Shaun Miller had a half chance when he came on, but how many will we create before someone grasps the nettle?” On the freak incident which led to the Carlisle winner, Artell added: “You can’t legislate for mistakes like that. But we talk about purpose and ruthlessness, and the back-pass is a bobbly one and it doesn’t need to be. “That doesn’t absolve Ben (Garratt) of any blame whatsoever, but in the first minute Kevin O’connor doesn’t put a bobbly backpass to him. But he does in the last minute, because he’s tired. “Help your mate out! It’s the same thing, just at the other end of the pitch.”