Artell to work on intensity in training after encouraging first half display

David Artell and his coaching staff will get to work this week on increasing the intensity in training. Crewe were beaten 2-1 by Luton Town at the weekend in what was Artell’s first game as manager of the club and the former promotion winning captain was relatively pleased with the work ethic of his players, especially in an impressive first half display. The intensity dropped in the second period and Jake Grey hit a winner for the ten men Hatter with just over 20 minutes left.

Artell told the club’s official web-site: “I thought we were the better side in the first half and the tempo and intensity was good from us. The intensity dropped in the second half and Luton managed the game well in the second half. They kept the ball better than we did.

“The intensity has to be better. We have got to last longer, not 40 minutes but 90 minutes. We have also got to brighter in the final third and those are the things we will work on.

“It is difficult to do that after three or four training sessions but we will get there. We have to crack it and we will crack it.

“We have to keep that intensity going and the training will be intensified to make sure we do last longer and stay in games.

“They are a good group of lads. There are not slackers here. They are grafters and will put a shift in and will run around. That is the basis for us going forward.”