DEFENDER Mark Ellis admits Easter is now make or break to Crewe’s survival hopes.

Last weekend’s 2-0 defeat to promoted Wolves dumped the Alex back into the League One drop zone with four games remaining.

And the 25-year-old knows their fate could all but be decided by results over the next few days.

Good Friday sees a trip to fellow strugglers Shrewsbury before a home clash against Colchester on Easter Monday.

Crewe then travel to Bristol City on Saturday week, April 26, before a finale at home to Preston North End on May 3.

“The dressing room was down after Saturday but we knew it was going to be a tough game against one of the best teams in division,” explained Ellis.

“It got even tougher after what happened with Chuks and the fact we have to play the second-half with ten men.

“But we can’t dwell on it because it’s important that we dust ourselves down and look at the next two games.

“Shrewsbury and Colchester are down there fighting with us so we’ve got to win those games.

“If we don’t get anything from these last four matches then we’re going down.

“We’ve got to stick together and work hard.”

Ellis issued a rallying cry to the supporters with well over 1,000 due to travel tomorrow across the Shropshire border.

“The fans can make a massive difference to us,” he added, “We proved that we can win away at Gillingham and Crawley so there is no reason why we can’t go to Shrewsbury and get three points.”

Aneke’s three-match suspension leaves Steve Davis with a major problem.

However Max Clayton (ankle) is back in training after six months out and could be an option.

“It won’t be easy to fill that void but other people have got to step in,” said Davis.

“Max has missed a lot of football and it’s important that we take our time with him.

“There is going to be a fitness issue and it would be a calculated risk if we were to start him.

“It’s an option but it would be unfair to hail him as some sort of saviour.

“Chuks has done everything he can to keep this club in this division and now it’s up to others.”