Rovers fell to defeat against The Alex despite leading at half time through a Reece Brown goal. However, four second half goals saw Crewe come away with all three points, with Rovers still waiting for their first league win at home this campaign, despite being unbeaten on the road.

“It was a weird game," said Bernard. "First half, it was a game where I was thinking that we could score two or three past them - but we came out for the second half and it was a completely different game.

“That’s completely down to ourselves, nothing else, lapses of concentration for the goal. It got completely out of our hands.

“The gaffer takes responsibility because that’s the kind of person he is - but it is our fault. We’re the ones putting the performances in and we have to apply the things he wants us to do. In the first half we did that in stages, but we didn’t continue it."

Rovers welcome bottom-of-the-table Doncaster Rovers to The New Lawn on Saturday - as David Horseman's side look to get their first three points on the board in Nailsworth. The South Yorkshire outfit are winless in their first seven games of the campaign, but Bernard knows to expect a tough challenge.

“We have to make this place a hard place to come," the captain said. "Doncaster will be tough because they’re a very good side. They’re good at what they do - fighting for every ball. It’s going to be another task and we need to make sure we’re up to it.”