David Artell is hoping Crewe Alexandra can repeat last season’s success in the League Cup by getting into round two of the competition. Crewe deservedly won 2-1 at Sheffield United last season before narrowly losing 4-3 to then Championship side Blackburn Rovers in extra-time.

The Crewe boss told the club’s official web-site: “Our primary focus is always the league but a cup run would boost confidence, it would be good financially, there are no negatives to having a good cup run.

“We have to make sure we beat whatever team is put in front of us, and that just happens to be Bolton.

Losing is a habit and winning is a habit, and we're unbeaten at the minute. No we want it to be two. Saturday needs to be three. Then four. Then five.

“It doesn't matter what competition, we'd suddenly be five unbeaten. That momentum is hard to stop. That has to be the aim.

“I don't think it'll be too dissimilar to Saturday. They might not be quite as physical but just as direct initially, we have to stand up to whatever they throw at us.

“Phil Parkinson is a successful manager. He has won promotions and he always builds good teams. It will be a tough cup game but one we can all look forward to.”