Paul Wotton's first-half double, from an early penalty and a late free-kick, piled further misery on Coca-Cola Championship bottom club Crewe.

Dario Gradi's side have now failed to win in their last 13 matches and look destined for relegation unless they can stop the rot quickly.

But this result eased Plymouth's fears of the drop as Wotton took his goals tally for the season to seven, including five penalties.

Gareth Taylor, signed on loan by Crewe from Nottingham Forest this week, took less than half a minute to make his presence felt as he shot wide when in a decent position.

But on their first attack Plymouth gained the penalty from which they took the lead. Richard Walker was adjudged to have fouled David Norris, which gave Wotton the chance to lash the ball past Ross Turnbull from the spot.

Another blow for the hosts came after just five minutes when experienced defender Adie Moses had to be replaced by Stephen Foster due to injury, and the substitute was not far off an equaliser in the 17th minute when he headed over the crossbar from Kenny Lunt's corner.

David Vaughan was off target with a header from a Steve Jones cross as Crewe enjoyed a better spell in which they restricted their opponents to long-range efforts that did not unduly trouble Turnbull.

Taylor drew a save from Romain Larrieu in the 28th minute while Jon Otsemobor, Crewe's other debutant having joined on a free transfer from Rotherham, became the first player booked for complaining after fouling Tony Capaldi.

Norris fired wide when connecting with a cross from recalled defender Hasney Aljofree before the visitors made it 2-0 in the dying seconds of the first half. Again Walker was the culprit as he fouled Micky Evans, Wotton stepping up for the free-kick which he sent beyond diving Turnbull.

That goal seemed to knock the stuffing out of Crewe for they offered little when the second half began, Evans shooting wide for Argyle who had their other striker, Nick Chadwick, booked for a foul on Billy Jones.

Gradi sent on a third forward, Luke Rodgers, in place of Vaughan and after Chadwick's volley had forced Turnbull into a parried save, the former Shrewsbury man put his side back into the match with a fine finish having been played in by Steve Jones.

But it could not spark an onslaught from Crewe in the closing stages and Norris almost increased the victory margin when he hit the post with a curling strike.

Teams

Crewe Turnbull, Moss, Moses (Foster 6), Walker, Otsemobor, Lunt, Billy Jones, Gary Roberts, Vaughan (Rodgers 62), Steve Jones, Taylor.

Subs Not Used: Tomlinson, Bell, Johnson.

Booked: Otsemobor.

Goals: Rodgers 68.

Plymouth Larrieu, Barness, Doumbe, Ward, Aljofree, Norris, Nalis, Wotton, Capaldi, Evans, Chadwick (Hodges 84).

Subs Not Used: McCormick, Lasley, Zebroski, Djordjic.

Booked: Chadwick.

Goals: Wotton 3 pen, 45.

Att: 5,984

Ref: D Drysdale (Lincolnshire).