Following a hard fought 1-0 win over a stubborn Barnet this afternoon at Gresty Road, the Crewe Alexandra boss David Artell was pleased that his side produced an ‘unlike’ Crewe performance to dig out the three points.

The Railwaymen had to remain patient to finally break the deadlock with 15 minutes left on the clock and it was the introduction of the energetic substitute Zoumana Bakayogo that helped create the only goal for Chris Porter.

Following the 1-0 win, Artell told the club’s official web-site: “It certainly wasn’t our best performance of the season but it has given us the best result. Today we haven’t performed as well as we have in the previous games, but look we would take it all day along.

“There was nothing in the game but we have produced the one real moment of quality with Zooms’ cross and Chris cannot miss at the moment.

“People were saying we deserved it but really, did we? We didn’t give them a sniff really which was really pleasing. Michael was a colossus for us back there, as were Brad and Eddie. They were hitting the longer ball up there and Michael’s head was like a magnet. He got his head on most things and his experience and leadership has given us a better balance back there. I thought we were comfortable.

“I said to them at half-time that I was bored. It was a bit of a non-event for me and I wanted a lift in the tempo. I asked them if they were alright and they said yeah they were. I told them alright wasn’t what I wanted and they lifted it. The rise in tempo when the two subs came on made a difference to us.

The boss added: “They offered us a bit of zip and that is the type of impact you want them to make. It paid off today and we have the points. The performance wasn’t up to the standards we have set ourselves, but I would have taken three points and a clean-sheet. It was a workmanlike, unlike Crewe type of performance but I’m just really pleased to get that first win.”