Lee Bell demands more cutting edge from Crewe after latest draw at Rotherham

Crewe manager Lee Bell bemoaned his side’s lack of cutting edge at Rotherham as they secured their sixth draw on the spin and their fourth straight 1-1 scoreline.

The unbeaten Railwaymen were gifted the lead in the 21st minute when Dominic Iorfa, on his home debut, headed into his own net from Joe White’s corner. However, Paul Mullin’s fourth goal of the campaign from a deft finish in the 44th minute got the Millers back on level terms before the interval.

Bell said: “It was disappointing with the way we conceded the goal. It’s us that have gifted them a goal.

“I thought for large parts we nullified them especially in the first half. I thought we were excellent in the first half. It’s a good point when you look at it in isolation.

Substitute Jack Lankester had a late effort ruled out for offside after Adrien Thibaut missed a gilt-edged chance early in the second half for Alex, and Bell is backing his side to start converting those draws into victories.

“The issue at the minute is scoring goals, and we have not had a shot on target,” Bell said.

“We had possession of the ball, and the lads are in the positions, but it’s just decision-making. We have to find that consistency and more importantly, we have to find ways of putting the ball in the back of the net.

“The majority of the time, we are getting up the pitch and Adrien (Thibaut) snatched at a late chance to put us in the lead again, but we will keep working at it.”

His opposite number Alex Bruce, who confirmed afterwards that Portuguese forward Fabio Tavares would be ruled out for the season after rupturing his Achilles during the Millers’ EFL Trophy game at York in midweek, felt his side, despite missing eight first-team players either through injury or international duty, showed their fighting qualities once again when they trailed in the game.

“We stuck in there, hence we got the goal despite playing poorly,” Bruce said.

“They are an honest group of lads, and when things are not going your way, you have to go back to basics. You have to stick in, ride it out and do the simple things, and we were much better in the second half.

“I don’t know where our goal came from because I don’t think we deserved it at the time being brutally honest. I thought it was a good finish from Mulls (Mullin), but it is what he does.”