TYPICAL Crewe was Dario Gradi's assessment of their 2-2 draw with then Championship leaders

Ipswich.

Dean Ashton's first-half double had the majority of the Alexandra Stadium buzzing only for the Tractor

Boys to stage a fightback for a point.

The boss is still happy with their recent run of form though.

"That was Crewe in a nutshell," said Gradi.

"We played some super football in the first half and opened them up.

"We still gave them chances through individual errors at the back and then in the second half we showed a frailty by not being determined enough to win balls from set plays into the box.

"We didn't really play any football in the second half.

"Of the four midfielders only David Vaughan was effective.

"The other three were caught short of ideas and short of skill to move the ball.

"So it went back to the centre-halves who whacked it up field.

"But if you'd said to me we'd have taken seven points out of the last three games, I would have been delighted."

Gradi sees some positives although feels they still need that commanding centre half.

"Our performance in the first half showed what is possible," he continued.

"But the second showed us that we still have a lot of work to do.

"We're probably still missing that central defender.

"Chris was tiring and wobbling a bit as was Richard Walker when he came on so that meant Foz was playing too deep.

"We really need a centre back to organise us and get us up the pitch.

"I could do the talking but I couldn't do the heading and the running."