BRUISED, battered and crestfallen - Burnley's mini-revival careered off the rails at Crewe Alexandra.

There could be no argument that the Clarets played a role of great consequence in an enthralling encounter at Gresty Road.

But it left furious player-boss Adrian Heath (pictured) to ponder yet more harsh and unpalatable facts 12 days into his Turf Moor tenure.

For the second time in a week, and against two of the leading promotion contenders, Burnley imploded after threatening, however briefly, to grab a result.

Two consecutive defeats on foreign soil again underlined Burnley's brittle defensive frailties - and the task facing Heath as he bids to regenerate the club.

The fact that Burnley's defence had held free-scoring Swindon to a 0-0 draw only four days before, only served to compound the immense disappointment last night.

And Heath was in no mood for excuses when he emerged from a subdued and sombre visitors' dressing room quarter of an hour after the final whistle.

He blasted: "The goals we conceded were diabolical.

"It's only my fourth game in charge and I'm a bit fed up with saying the same things already.

"Really, our defending was very poor. People were just not concentrating out there. It was not great play which opened us up.

"It was errors of judgement, mistakes and players just not concentrating enough.

"This is the second time I've said this in the last two away games. Obviously the penny is not dropping with one or two people."

Again Burnley's approach play and general work-rate could not be questioned and, until the referee brought a largely uninspiring first half to a close, the result remained in the balance.

Burnley were bright and lively, inventive too, yet they lacked the inspiration to really damage a Crewe side who had lost their last three league games.

The arrival of the unlikely figure of giant Lagos-born striker Dele Adebola was to change all that.

A change of tactics from Alex boss Dario Gradi over the half-time cuppa deployed Adebola as the chief threat alongside loan striker Gary Blissett from Wimbledon.

And Crewe, stretching their play to hurt Burnley, were in business.

Burnley's best opportunity until then saw Warren Joyce slide a Kurt Nogan centre wide after a slick 40-yard ball had put Nogan in the clear.

Crewe, though, had to wait just four minutes after the re-start to wrestle the game away.

Burnley lost control in the middle of the park and Danny Murphy sent Steve Garvey clear with an instinctive first time pass.

He skipped around the defenceless Marlon Beresford, and despite Burnley's frantic attempts to clear the danger, Garvey proved too quick off the mark and slid home into an empty net.

There was worse to follow for shell-shocked Burnley. This time the big man did the damage.

There was not a Clarets marker in sight as he made rapid ground to the edge of the Burnley penalty box.

He steadied his giant frame to send a low, crisp shot which flew past Marlon Beresford and off the inside of the post.

Yet, while Crewe continued to dictate with a two goal lead, chances came and went for the Clarets.

Kurt Nogan whipped an effort only inches over Mark Gayle's crossbar, while Andy Cooke curled a right-footed shot wide of the target after David Eyres had carved out the opportunity.

Eyres was denied a certain goal when Gayle brilliantly saved his powerful shot a minute later.

Then, finally, Burnley were rewarded as Crewe were unable to defend from a set-piece.

The home defence watched transfixed as a Steve Thompson corner floated across the face of the Crewe goal.

Mark Winstanley needed no second invitation, thumping home an unstoppable header in front of the jubilant Burnley support.

They sensed a rescue act, and so did the players as they promptly laid siege to the Crewe goal in the final quarter of the game.

Gary Parkinson went only inches wide of the post while a Paul Weller centre saw Kurt Nogan head wide.

Nogan, though, should have levelled with his best opportuntiy of the match four minutes from time.

We've seen Kurt score so many class goals this season, but he will know he should have hit the target after Eyres' pass had given the leading goalscorer a decent shooting angle to work with.

But Burnley were made to pay dearly in the final minute of the game as substitute Mark Rivers slammed home an unstoppable 20-yarder.

It was a goal which handed Crewe the points and probably buries, once and for all, any brave talk of a play-off wild card for Burnley.

With 12 games remaining, Burnley are almost certain to be playing their Endsleigh League football in the Second Division next season. "It's only my fourth game in charge and I'm a bit fed up with saying the same things already" - Heath

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