David Artell believes that Saturday’s spirited 1-0 win over Stevenage FC proved that his players were not lacking in confidence.

The Alex went into the game against a top six team on the back of five straight losses in League Two but they stuck to the task to end that run through Jordan Bowery’s stoppage time winner. It was no more than Crewe deserved after enjoying the majority of the possession against Darren Sarll’s side.

Against the run of play in the first half, the visitors were awarded a soft penalty after Matt Godden went down under a challenge from Zoumana Bakayogo but Dave Richards stood firm to save the spot kick with his legs.

Artell was delighted that his side continued to drive forward looking for a late winner, and Bowery obliged with his second goal of the season deep into stoppage time.

Now the Crewe boss wants his players to take that result into Saturday’s trip to Yeovil.

He said: “I don’t think the players were lacking in confidence. I think they had received a few kicks in the stomach when they were down but I thought the performance showed that we were not lacking in confidence or belief.

“Even when they were awarded a penalty in the first half and missed it, it didn’t affect them. Although we have been on the receiving end of a few narrow defeats of late, they kept going forward looking to win the game. They were not settling for a draw and they got their reward for that with Jordan’s late goal.

“They kept believing and I thought we thoroughly deserved the three points. Their staff may say otherwise, I don’t know, but we didn’t give up and now we have to take that into next weekend.

He added: “It has stopped the rot but it’s one game again, three points and now we have to aim to build on it and get a little run going again.”