Source: PA
We deserved a draw - Gradi
Crewe manager Dario Gradi felt his side were worth a point after Port Vale handed them their first defeat in 12 outings.
Louis Dodds headed home Doug Loft's cross to give Vale a 13th-minute lead and Marc Richards doubled the advantage with a 74th-minute penalty following Patrick Ada's foul on Gary Roberts.
Clayton Donaldson pulled a goal back for Crewe with a spot-kick of his own after Vale's Anthony Griffith handled and received a second yellow card for his trouble.
"I was pleased with a few aspects of our play and thought we deserved a draw, but we have to take the result and get on with it," said Gradi.
"Vale were hard to score against with their three centre-halves who were strong and kept heading the ball out. We hit too many long balls up to our forwards and that is something we have to look at.
"But we played some good stuff as well. We have played better, but we have played worse and we will keep working and improving."
