Crewe manager Lee Bell praised his side’s togetherness after they overcame a stubborn Morecambe to take all three points.
A goal from substitute Chris Long earned the Alex a win that keeps them in second place in League Two but they were made to battle all the way by a Morecambe side who created, but wasted, a string of chances in the game.
Bell said: “It was a brilliant day for us and follows up a good point at Swindon last week.
“It was a great performance where the players gave absolutely everything to each other.
“I don’t think there is much in the league this year and I knew we would have to put up with some suffering this afternoon and we did that.
“The boys put their bodies on the line, the work rate was exceptional and I know we just needed a bit of quality and we got that through Chris Long with his goal after some fantastic work from Omar Bogle and Ryan Cooney and from there we managed to keep out everything they threw at us.
“I wasn’t happy after the Swindon game last week but I knew we would be on it today. I have a brilliant set of lads so I am always disappointed when we are not at it but today we were back to our best.”
Morecambe manager Derek Adams was once again left frustrated by his side’s lack of quality in front of goal as the result left them five points from safety.
He said: “We should have come away with a win and that has been the case too many times this season. We didn’t have the killer instinct this afternoon and that has been our biggest problem.
“We dominated the game for long periods and created a lot of good opportunities throughout the game but we have lost seven games 1-0 this season and that tells us that we have a good foundation but we haven’t scored enough goals and lacked quality where it matters.
“We are creating lots of opportunities now but just not taking them and that has to change as we move forward.”
Long broke the deadlock after 69 minutes when he slotted home Cooney’s pull back after the full-back was allowed a free run into the box in the vital moment of the game.
Second from bottom of the table Morecambe had the better chances of the game but failed to make the most of them.
Callum Jones wasted two glorious opportunities to score before the break when he made a mess of a free header and then fired wide when put free on goal after a quickly taken free-kick.
Filip Marschall was forced into a good save from Gwion Edwards’s long-range drive and in the second half the Shrimps pushed forward with David Tutonda fizzing a shot wide and Yann Songo’o twice going close but the visitors’ miserly defence held firm to clinch the three points.
