David Artell believes that defensive minded players are wavering in the modern game. The Crewe Alexandra boss, who built a 19-year career on defending with his head and his heart in the lower leagues, say it is rare to find players who relish the art of defending.  

The Crewe Alexandra boss says it is a problem in the whole of football from the top level to League Two.

He told us: “I think that finding those defensive minded players is a problem facing the whole of football. It is a modern trend and players are not as defensive minded as they were in my day.

“That is true just as much in the Premier League as our league. Not so many relish that challenge and see it as an art. Good defending is an art.

“I built a whole career on those little details. Knowing where to be. Being prepared to put my head on things in both boxes.

“Saying that other than the Carlisle game, I don’t think we have been overawed defensively. We can improve in both boxes and work on improving our mindset to make sure that when we concede we don’t automatically think ‘here we go again’.