Artell shows the players the difference between Blackpool and Hartlepool.

Crewe Alexandra manager David Artell has told the club’s official web-site that his side have to cope with suffering set-backs better. The Crewe staff have shown the players the difference between the second half displays against Blackpool and Hartlepool United this week to seek improvement.

Crewe staged a tremendous comeback from 2-0 down to earn a point at Bloomfield Road but collapsed at Hartlepool on Tuesday evening after conceding on the brink of half-time.

The Alex boss believes that his team have shown they are more than capable of competing in this division but that they have to overcome set-backs better than they showed at Victoria Park in that 4-0 defeat.

Artell told crewealex.net: “The lads know that the second half at Hartlepool was not acceptable. We had too many players playing well below the standard they have set themselves and when you have only two or three playing at the right level, you are not going to win football matches.

“We showed the players the second half at Blackpool and compared it to the second half at Hartlepool. It is to show the players that they can do it and improve. It is about looking to improve and not them feeling lower than a snake’s belly.

He added: “They didn’t handle it well on Tuesday night and the difference between what happened in the second half at Hartlepool compared to Blackpool was drastic. They have to cope better with things going against them. Going a goal behind or two goals behind should not have the impact it does. It galvanised us against Blackpool but we couldn’t manage to lift it again at Hartlepool.”