Artell: Playing Carlisle aids chances of success
DAVID Artell says his Crewe Alex players are ready for the visit of Carlisle United in the FA Cup first round today. It will be the second meeting of the season between the two sides - the Railwaymen were beaten 1-0 at Brunton Park in League Two in August.
But the manager believes his side are capable of progressing in the competition.
Artell said: “We have already played Carlisle this season and we played well on the day. We didn’t get what we deserved.
“We will be mentally ready. Carlisle will be thinking that they been better away from home this season than on their own patch.
“They have had some good results away from home but we have been very good at home and hopefully that comes out tomorrow.
“I’ve seen the comments that (Carlisle manager) John Sheridan has made this week about us being a good attacking side. Although I’m sure some of our supporters won’t agree at the moment, but we can be.
“We can play some good stuff and be threatening, but we just need to take more care with that final ball or make better decisions, but I agree with John, we can be a good side when it clicks for us in the final third.”
James Jones remains a doubt with a hamstring injury, but the likes of strikers Alex Nicholls and Chris Porter are pushing for recalls.
Artell added: “We have had a really good week of training. The players have responded really well to the two defeats and it’s been a really positive and productive week.
“Having Carlisle helps us in a way. We know all about them and their players, so we know they have League Two standard players like we have.
“It isn’t as though we have a League One side or a non-league side that we don’t know so much about.
“The aim will be to win the game and get through to the next round. We have two cup games coming up in a short space of time and if we can win them both then we would be into the next round of two competitions and it would be worth a few bob to the club as well.”
Defender Eddie Nolan believes it’s the ideal chance for Crewe to start another good run of form and bounce back from last weekend’s 2-0 defeat at Northampton.
“We weren’t good enough from start to finish (at Northampton) and it cost us in the end,” he explained.
“We’d be on a good run away from home but it’s come to an end now and we have to go again and start building momentum again, starting with the FA Cup on Saturday.
“Everyone is disappointed, we’ve had a chat and we know what to do.
“We don’t want to be bottom half this season, we want to be up there challenging.”