Crewe play-off comeback 'truly amazing' - Bell

Lee Bell won promotion with Crewe as a player in the League Two play-offs in 2011-12 - which was the last time the club reached a play-off final

Crewe Alexandra manager Lee Bell says his side's comeback from a two-goal deficit to edge Doncaster Rovers in a dramatic penalty shootout to reach the League Two play-off final was "truly amazing".

The Alex defied the formbook and recent play-off history to book their place at Wembley by coming back from 2-0 down from the first leg to win the second by the same score and force extra-time before triumphing dramatically on spot-kicks.

"Absolutely nobody gave us a chance apart from us in the dressing room - we know what we're capable of," Bell told BBC Radio Stoke.

"There were players who were 50% fit but when you put those boys together and they can be a unit, they are a match for anyone."

Mickey Demetriou's early header and James Maxwell's own goal quickly wiped out Rovers' first-leg lead before Crewe's emergency on-loan goalkeeper Max Stryjek saved two spot-kicks in the shootout to put the Alex through to their first play-off final in 12 years.

The triumph meant Bell's side not only derailed a rampant Rovers, who had surged into the play-offs on the back of a 10-game winning run, but also chalked up just their second win in 11 matches.

Bell said Crewe's lack of momentum going into the play-offs wasn't a huge worry in his eyes.

"We've had some criticism over the last few weeks which I think is unjust," he said.

"I think people just expected us to go on and get promoted finishing third but the players are amazing and they fully deserve it.

"No one gave us a chance coming into the game, or in the home leg. I love proving people wrong. I've had it my whole life and long may it continue."

Crewe will face Crawley on Sunday in the final for a place in League One next season - a task which Bell describes as "massive".

"We've got to take it all in and enjoy it - and I'm going to really enjoy it," he said.

Crewe became only the fourth team in play-off history to come back from losing the first leg of a semi-final by two goals at home and still make the final