PAOLO Di Canio plans to rediscover his ruthless streak after watching Swindon go down 2-0 to Crewe at Gresty Road on Saturday.

Town failed to get going against the play-off chasing Railwaymen until the 70th minute, but by then they were two goals down following strikes by the highly rated Nick Powell and Ashley Westwood.

The Robins rallied in the latter stages with Simon Ferry and Paul Benson both seeing shots hit the woodwork, but ultimately it was too little too late as Crewe recorded a deserved victory.

Town’s lead at the top of League Two has been cut to four points after Torquay won again to climb up to second.

The Gulls are the visitors at the County Ground tomorrow and a defeat for Town would throw the title chase wide open.

And Di Canio plans to says things as he sees it once again to help ensure that Saturday’s defeat proves to be nothing more than a blip. “I have to be less kind and more straight because what paid off until today for me was that I focused my attention, I was determined and I was not too kind and friendly,” he said.

“Probably in the last two games I am guilty because I thought because we were at the top and so I should be less tough, but that way has not paid off.

“We were lucky against Cheltenham and we were deserved to lose on Saturday.

“I know that some of my players may think that ‘we had many chances at the end’ but Crewe scored twice before then, so it did not matter.

“If they understand the lesson we will be okay.”

The defeat was all the more disappointing given that it had been preceded by the good news of Aden Flint’s return to availability.

The towering defender had not played since January 21 due to a groin injury, and it was initially feared that he would miss the rest of the season.

However, his recovery has been much quicker than expected and Di Canio was confident enough in his match fitness to name him in the heart of defence alongside Joe Devera.

Other changes to the side included Callum Kennedy being named at left back while Jonathan Tehoue was handed his first start since joining on loan with the Frenchman partnering Paul Benson in attack.

New loan signing Lee Holmes was named among the substitutes along with 10-goal striker Alan Connell.

A fine attacking move inside the first two minutes gave Crewe the first chance when one touch passing ended with Nick Powell releasing Byron Moore but, fortunately for Town, the winger could only sweep his effort harmlessly wide.

But that proved to be something of a false dawn, however, as little of note happened for the next 20 minutes, with Town looking particularly lethargic.

The usually impeccable defence was struggling to cope with a fleet-footed Crewe attack while the midfield had been largely anonymous. In attack, Paul Benson and Jonathan Tehoue were showing plenty of endeavour but were not really working together as a partnership.

Di Canio was furiously urging his players to keep the ball on the ground as Town resorted to hitting it long, and it was of little surprise that the next real chance of the game went the way of the hosts, A-Jay Leitch-Smith expertly controlled a long pass into the area but he shot wide with only Wes Foderingham to beat.

But the home side were deservedly ahead just before the half hour mark when Moore passed to Leitch-Smith on the right and the striker delivered a dangerous cross for Powell, who smashed a volley off the underside of the crossbar and the ball came down over the goalline.

The half time whistle couldn’t come soon enough for the visitors and Di Canio was undoubtedly desperate to get his players down the tunnel and get them geared up for a second-half revival.

One change was made at the restart, with new signing Holmes coming on for Luke Rooney, and the Southampton winger quickly tried to make an impression as he won Town’s first corner of the game, but his delivery was cleared.

Crewe seemed to be making full use of their big pitch and continued to find space in the Town defence as Powell picked up the ball inside the area but his well-struck effort was straight into the gloves of Foderingham.

Swindon were improving though and a venomous goalbound shot by Tehoue struck a defender after the Frenchman had been picked out by Benson inside the area.

But then things took a turn for the worse for Town when Crewe added a second in the 65 minute as the visitors failed to clear a Matt Tootle cross and the ball flew all the way across to Westwood, who took a touch before firing home.

The goal prompted Di Canio to make his second change of the game, with Ronan Murray replacing Callum Kennedy and the young striker had a chance soon after coming on when he was put through on goal but his flicked effort was caught by Crewe keeper Steve Phillips.

Swindon started to pile on the pressure as Simon Ferry curled a delightful effort against the crossbar before Tehoue’s follow up shot was blocked by Adam Dugdale.

Benson was next to find the woodwork with a header and then Tehoue lashed a shot over the bar from Ferry’s low cross as Town piled forward.

But it was clearly not going to be Swindon’s day as Crewe continued their recent run of form with a deserved win.