Lee Bell stressed Crewe need to sort out their disciplinary issues after they picked up a second red card in as many games during the 0-0 draw at Gillingham.
Ryan Cooney was sent off with 15 minutes to go as the Railwaymen were forced to battle their way to a point at Priestfield.
The visitors had 11 players missing for the game, with nine out injured and two suspended.
And after his side’s third sending off of the season, Bell said: “We’ve got to cut that out. As you can imagine the chairman’s on to me about it.
“There are only so many times you can tell the players.
“It costs them their place in the team and there are players waiting to jump on their opportunities.
“It could have cost us dearly there because it’s a really good point.
“We saw a battling performance because they started the second half well and we’ve gone down to 10 men again which is unacceptable.
“It could have cost us the game that moment. We had to battle and did that well.”
The red card aside, Bell was happy with how his depleted side handed themselves.
He added: “I’m delighted with the lads. They were amazing.
“It was a brilliant day. I don’t bang on too much about (the injuries) to the players but they were excellent today.
“We played some really good stuff. We had some really good moments.
“It’s a really good point with how it’s come about because we’ve had to fight and battle at the end.
“It probably feels like a win for the players and we really need to build on that now.
“It’s a good team. We’ve got good players.”
John Coleman is still waiting for his first victory as Gills boss.
It is now 11 games without a win for the club.
And Coleman, whose side saw Bradley Dack’s goal disallowed, said: “I’ve had loads of them days and my career.
“Firstly, I have to give credit to Lee Bell and the Crewe side which came here. They’ve been decimated with injuries and some suspensions and had a really young side which really battled.
“They rode their luck and were lucky with the goal being ruled out.
“It’s one of those days. I said to the players if you go into your shell you’ll never get anywhere. You’ve got to keep banging the door down until it goes in.
“When one goes in don’t be surprised if two or three go in because that’s football. I’ve been through this loads of times.
“When you’re desperate to get results you tend to snatch at things. There’s nothing that you can describe fortune as in football. Sometimes you feel everything’s going against you.
“You’ve got to ride it through. You’ve got to go through the pain and show the endeavour we showed today.”
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