Artell looking forward to 'real contest' against Johnson's Robins.

Crewe Alexandra manager David Artell has challenged his players to play with no fear at the Alexandra Stadium this weekend. Crewe can go seven points clear of our visitors Cheltenham this weekend if Artell can guide us to his first win as the club’s new manager, but our former promotion winning captain says that his team need to embrace the challenge.

Ahead of our encounter at Gresty Road, David told us: “It is a real contest and a big game. It is a big game because it is the next game and there are three points up for grabs.

“It will be a challenge but the players should embrace it. The challenge is for them to go out and deliver. If we have eight or nine of our players playing better than his opposite number then we will win the game. If we have only three or four then we won’t.

“They want to be coming off tomorrow after giving their all and with that win. It is 11 men v 11 men. I want them to play with no fear. We respect Cheltenham like we respect all teams but we shouldn’t fear them.

“We respected Doncaster last week but didn’t fear them and I thought we gave it a real go, especially in the first half and it could have been a different outcome.

He added: “We all want to win football matches. It makes a massive difference to confidence and belief and I don’t think we are far off. We are getting closer and if we can play better over 90 minutes then there is no reason why that cannot happen this weekend.”