'We can still make it happen' - Dicker on play-offs

Crewe Alexandra assistant boss Ryan Dicker says they are pleased to still be in a position where they can "make it happen" and seal a place in the League Two play-offs.

With eight matches to go, the Alex are two points off seventh-placed Grimsby Town, who have a game in hand.

Crewe, on 57 points, are ahead of Walsall on goal difference with Chesterfield, in eighth, only below the Mariners by the same metric.

After back-to-back wins, the Railwaymen's momentum has been checked over the past three games with two defeats in a row followed by a 1-1 draw at Cheltenham Town.

With Swindon Town, Salford City and Notts County seven and eight points clear respectively in the other play-off spots, Dicker said reeling them in would be very hard.

"It's pleasing that we are still in the mix," he told BBC Radio Stoke.

"I do think there's just one slot available because I don't think anyone's catching Swindon or above, so I think it's between probably four or five teams for that one slot and we're in the mix."

Meanwhile, Crewe have triggered the option in captain Mickey Demetriou's contract to extend his stay until the end of the 2026-27 season.

The 36-year-old defender is in his third season with the Alex and has scored 15 goals in 124 appearances since joining in the summer of 2023.

Crewe have let 13 points slip from winning positions this season, with the latest ones to be dropped in their 2-1 defeat by Bristol Rovers when they led with three minutes to go.

"I think it's disappointing and frustrating with the amount of points that in truth we've probably thrown away," Dicker said.

"If you look at the Bristol Rovers game, you can't be 1-0 up on the 87th minute and then come away with nothing.

"And that's happened on different occasions throughout the season. We've left points out there, which is disappointing.

"But you've got to find the positives in that still. We still remain in a position where we can make it happen and we've got eight massive games to ensure that we end up where we want to end up."

Crewe take on resurgent Shrewsbury Town on Saturday (15:00 GMT) and Dicker is looking forward to what lies ahead in the remaining weeks of the campaign.

"It's exciting, isn't it? You want to be in this position," he said.

"You don't want to be six points further behind where you haven't got anything to play for.

"Yes, it's frustrating that we should be a few points higher up and in a slightly better position but we've still got things to play for in these remaining eight games.

"There's a massive goal at the end of it. It's still all to play for."