Crewe first-team coach Steve Holland was prepared to take "full responsibility" for the 3-1 home defeat against promotion hopefuls Southend.Lee Barnard, who spent the first half of the season on loan at Gresty Road, showed no mercy as he made it 1-0 to Southend after just 61 seconds with an opportunist strike.

James Walker doubled the lead for the Shrimpers before goalkeeper Darryl Flahavan took centre stage with penalty saves from both Gary Roberts and Kenny Lunt.

Nicky Maynard pulled one back for the Alex but Barnard's sweet finish with 10 minutes left kept the Shrimpers in the play-offs places, and Crewe only out of the bottom four courtesy of Gillingham's inferior goal difference.

Holland told the club's official website: "I accept full responsibility for that result, it is my job to prepare the team.

"I prepare them for the game and I haven't done my job properly.

"It was a poor start to the game. All of the back four looked nervous and hesitant and the midfield didn't look like they wanted the ball at all except maybe Kenny Lunt, who I thought did some good things sometimes.

"To have missed two penalties, I don't think they were badly struck, neither of them was a poor penalty but they were two good saves for their goalkeeper."

Barnard may have contributed to Crewe's downfall, but he hopes the Railwaymen stay up.

The former Spurs man said: "It is good and bad scoring against your old club. I would like to see Crewe stay up but this was about three points and I was not about to give them any favours.

"It was a good start but we were a bit lucky. They missed two penalties and we are glad of the three points. We are in a good position now but we can't get complacent. We are on a good run but we need to keep going."

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