Following a duo of dismal defeats to Carlisle United and Morecambe the Saddlers entered a much improved first-half display against the Railwaymen and, following Caolan Lavery's tenth goal of the season, took a deserved lead into the half-time break.
However, Clarke's side were unable to build upon their first-half display as goals from Daniel Powell and Oliver Finney were enough to see David Artell's side home to victory as they moved into second place in the table.
Mansfield-born Clarke agreed that it was a game of two halves and went on to bemoan his team's failure to perform for the full ninety-minutes whilst also criticising referee Lee Swabey for what he believes was a foul in the lead up to Crewe's equalising goal.
Speaking to the assembled media, Darrell said; "Yeah certainly. I thought first forty-five there was a real good shape and discipline about us, I thought we were the lot better team.
"We caused a lot of problems and it’s disappointing then not to get the second which gives you a bit of daylight. But second half it was nowhere near good enough. I don’t want to criticise but it’s a blatant foul on my player for the goal.
"Josh gets pushed right in the back and he ends up right on the floor and the lad flicks it in and then it’s tapped in at the back stick.
"There’s a couple of things there, first of all it’s a free-kick and then Josh squeezes the line and it’s offside if he doesn’t get fouled - so we’re disappointed in that goal.
"But that’s probably papering over a few cracks of our second half performance which wasn’t anywhere near as good as the first. You have to give credit to Crewe as well, I think they’re a very decent team.
"Decent teams like that with their front power, and we didn’t defend particularly well, can hurt you."