Missing play-offs would feel 'criminal' - Connolly

Crewe Alexandra defender James Connolly said it would feel "criminal" if they failed to make the League Two play-offs because they know "we are good enough".

Centre-back Connolly's 85th-minute header grabbed the Alex a point in their 1-1 draw at Cheltenham Town on Tuesday - a result that left them in ninth place, two points off the top seven with eight games to go.

And the 24-year-old said that point could yet prove vital.

"I think that's important. It's a long season, I think there's been too many times where we haven't got back into games or we've missed chances or we've conceded a second," he told BBC Radio Stoke.

"I don't think we were amazing [against Cheltenham], but we still got the point. There's eight cup finals left and hopefully we can have some good results."

Crewe are in an almost identical position to last season, when they were one point off the play-off places with eight games to play.

But only one more win - and four points - followed as their promotion challenged faded.

"Last year was the same," Connolly said. "Obviously, we were falling off a little bit at this point, but we know how good the squad is.

"We keep saying it'll be criminal if we're not up there, not getting the play-offs.

"It's important that we keep chalking results off and come the 46th game we're up there.

"We've got a lot to play for. That's our aim - the play-offs. We want to be in there. We know we're good enough to, so that's what we're aiming for."