Crewe Alexandra's captain Mat Mitchel-King says the next month will decide in which direction the Railwaymen are headed this season. Mitchel-King was arguably our most outstanding performer at Hereford on Tuesday evening and the competitive centre-half admits that with games now coming thick and fast after an enforced break, it is time to stand up and be counted in the run-in.

Mitchel-King told the club's official web-site: "It is still very tight in the league and we are certainly not out of it yet. It has been a frustrating time because we had been in a good run of form before we went to Macclesfield.

"Although we played well in terms of the possession and chances created, we lost there and then didn't have a game again for a couple of weeks. It has taken us a while to get going again and then we had one or two injuries as well.

"Because of the postponements we are going to be playing a few Tuesday, Saturday, Tuesdays and if we can go on another run then we will be there. We have done it before Christmas and now have to do it again. The draw at Hereford was a start but we were disappointed not to take all three points, especially when you take their goal into account.

"January and February is going to be a busy time for us and will decide where we are going to be. We are certainly good enough to be up there in the top seven places, but now we have to go out and prove it by getting consistent results."