Phil Parkinson cursed two “criminal” misses as City were left picking up the pieces from a third away loss in a week at Crewe.

The 1-0 defeat at Gresty Road kept Parkinson’s troops still only four points off the League Two drop zone.

After a poor first half, City upped their game but James Hanson and sub David Syers fluffed great chances to level – the second one in the final minute of added time.

Parkinson said: “If the keeper had made great saves from those two chances then you’d hold your hand up.

“You’ve got to make the goalkeeper work in those situations. I thought it was criminal that he didn’t have to make a save.

“They were great chances but if you don’t hit the target, you definitely don’t score.

“Syers’ was an even bigger one than Hanson’s because of the time he had. If that had been on target the keeper would have had no chance.”

Crewe, now unbeaten in eight, won it with a Harry Davis penalty after Andrew Davies had handled.

Parkinson had no complaints with the decision but was delighted with the way his side picked it up after the break.

He added: “You’ve got to give Crewe credit for the first half. They are a team with confidence and full of young, technical players who have come up through their academy.

“They’ve got cleverness in the final third and (Nick) Powell is someone they value at £5million. But I thought we were tremendous in the second half and rose to the challenge well.

“I hate losing and three defeats in a row is not good. Each one has got its own story but we haven’t picked up any points.

“But if we play like we have done, then we’ll be okay.

“In the second half I saw a team that played with quality on the ball and intensity in the way we closed people down.

“Play like that and we’ll make these next two home games very profitable in terms of points.”

Craig Fagan was sent home in a taxi after being sick during the team’s pre-match meal. Ritchie Jones was also feeling ill.

Skipper Michael Flynn did not even make the bench after being dropped.

Parkinson said: “It was a tough one but Flynny’s been out injured and ill and I think Bully (Lee Bullock) has done really well for us.

“The reason he wasn’t on the bench is because I had two holding midfielders out there so the one sub had to be an attacking one. David Syers is the best we’ve got in that role.”