Crewe manager Lee Bell was “furious” with his side’s first-half display as they fell to a 3-1 defeat against fellow promotion-chasers MK Dons.
Despite an early equaliser from Elliot Nevitt, Matt Dennis’s second goal and a Stephen Wearne strike saw the hosts soar to fourth in the table.
Bell reflected on a dismal first-half showing from his side, noting how they did not come together like they have all season when it mattered.
“The start of the game was a mess in terms of what we were after,” he said. “We didn’t look anything like what we’d gone through with the players.
“The second goal, I’m furious at. It’s the first time this season where it’s not looked like what we spoke to them about.
“That infuriated me as the game could have been six-all.”
Bell believes his team needs to be more “ruthless” as they try to take what they have learnt in training into matches.
“We’ve got to be much more clinical and ruthless in that final third,” Bell added.
“The response we got in the second half looked more like us, and we’ve got to carry that forward.
“I thought we tried to be positive throughout the game and delivering the messages we’ve given, but the players didn’t quite do that for periods of the first half and that’s cost us.”
MK Dons head coach Mike Williamson believed the game was much more “open in nature” than Bell’s initial reaction.
“It will be interesting to look back on the opportunities,” he added.
“It’s difficult when you play a team like that who are incredibly hard-working and there isn’t really a weak area to their game.
“They can play through the thirds, they can go long, they’re strong in transition, they almost had a few chances from set-pieces as well.
“We just try and create as many as we can for us.”
The Dons moved fourth in the table, level on points with Wrexham and Stockport and setting up a fierce promotion battle with the Hatters next week.
“I think it’s the mindset that for us now, the whole debrief was just about the next game,” Williamson said.
“Every action has got to stack in focus and desire. We know how big the next game is.
“It’s really pleasing to get the result today but more pleasing to get the performance.”
Red Bulls win New York derby as Seattle knock out Los Angeles FC
Goals from Felipe Carballo and Dante Vanzeir settled the New York derby as New York Red Bulls defeated New York City 2-0 at the Citi Field to enter the Eastern Conference final of the MLS Cup.
Uruguayan Carballo blasted an effort into the top corner in the 16th minute to give the visitors the breakthrough in the 16th minute before Vanzeir drilled an Emil Forsberg corner in off the post nine minutes later.
City probed for a way back into the game as they enjoyed about 70% of possession and attempted 25 shots. But failing to produce a goal despite an xG of 2.8, the 2021 champions crashed out.
Meanwhile, it was a clinical and well-organised display from the Red Bulls, who generated an xG of 0.88 with nine shots and were happy to sit back and protect their two-goal advantage for the majority of the game.
"It's a big win today, but in the end, it’s the next step. We have to continue this hard work and next week take the next step,” said Red Bulls boss Sandro Schwarz after the game.
Michel delighted with Girona's return to form after injury boosts
Michel puts Girona's rediscovered form down to the energy of the returning players from injury after they thrashed Espanyol in LaLiga on Saturday.
Girona had endured a shaky start to the season but moved up to fifth in the standings on 21 points after a superb home victory featuring a Bojan Miovski brace and goals by Bryan Gil and Ladislav Krejci.
Michel's side have now won their last three LaLiga matches, going on their best such run since between April and May 2024, the last time they recorded three victories on the bounce.
"Today's victory, which is our third [in a row], it's due to the fact we got people back, because we've rested, because we've had a very good week of training and because that energy today was noticeable," Michel told a press conference.
"The only thing I hope is that we continue to recover people, that we continue to have the necessary minutes for everyone and that, as we have very tough games coming up every three days, we need everyone to be at 100%; we'll see if we can achieve this without any problems."
Yaser Asprilla and Krejci, back from injury, combined for the fourth goal, but it was the pairing of Miovski and Gil who made the night with lethal attacks for the second and third goals.
"I am very happy for Miovski, he is a player who gives everything in training," Michel added. "I was worried because he wasn't scoring goals.
"He always tries to do his best for the team, he needs time. I am happy for him.
"Bryan is a very important player for everyone, his best version is yet to come. Right now, the process with him is what we all expect."
Last season's surprise package Girona face Austrian side Sturm Graz in the Champions League on Wednesday and the manager hopes they can repeat Saturday's performance in the European game.
"This is the Girona I want, 100%. We started the game very well, that's the reality," Michel added.
"The first half hour was spectacular, with and without the ball... We had a presence up front. The first half hour is what we want to do this season."
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