‘WE HAVE BECOME A BIT HARDER TO BEAT, WHICH IS A MASSIVE STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION’
CREWE Alexandra manager Dave Artell says he has been trying to find the right balance during his side’s break from action.
The Alex’s League One game against Doncaster Rovers last weekend was called off because of international call-ups, while there has been a rare midweek break for Artell’s men.
That has allowed the boss to take stock of a recent run of just one defeat in eight matches, while also preparing for this weekend’s return away to Fleetwood Town.
Crewe went into their mini break on the back of a 2-2 league draw with Cambridge and a 2-0 home victory over Wigan Athletic in the Papa John’s Trophy.
Artell told the club’s website: “There have been some real positives to take recently. We have lost one in eight, so we have become a bit harder to beat which is a massive step in the right direction.
“We have drawn too many of those games and we need to start winning some games.
“There was a real positive 45 minutes against Cambridge but then a poor 45 minutes followed. That was mixed feelings and it felt like a defeat.
“We were better again against Wigan and managed to get that clean-sheet. We needed Dave (Richards) to save a penalty and then had a let off when they went through at the end, but it was a good win and a good performance.
“We have to keep on working hard and the players are. We are going to have a run of days without a game and that has allowed us to get some work into them on the training ground. It has been good so far and we have had a few longer sessions, as well as them getting their rest and recovery in.
“The players know that some of the goals we have conceded have been of our making and making the wrong decisions, but that is something we are all looking to improve on.”
He added: “We will use the next few days we have wisely and keep working on the things we need to before our attention switches onto Fleetwood and what their strengths and weaknesses are.”