David Artell says the challenge for his Crewe Alexandra team is to break the recent cycle of win one, lose one at Carlisle United this weekend. Crewe enjoyed a good return of nine points from a possible 15 over the festive period but Artell is aiming for more consistently during the second half of the season.

After a free weekend last time out due to Exeter City’s involvement in the FA Cup, Crewe will be aiming to build on a superb 2-0 win over Grimsby Town on New Years’ Day with a positive result at Brunton Park.

Ahead of our first away game of 2018, Artell told crewealex.net: “On one hand we could say that we are not a million miles away but on the other that we are.

“What we need to be is more positively consistent. We have all the tools to do that but the margins in professional sport are very slim.

“What we have found is that when we win a game, we don’t follow it up with another one. We cannot keep on doing that. We have to break that cycle.

“If we were to win one, lose one, win one all the way to May then we would be fine but I don’t do fine. I want us to be better than that. That is the challenge for us and I know the players are capable of being more consistent.

“Getting two or three more players in would help with that but I’ve said it all season, this league is much of a muchness.

“Even Luton who have hammered teams by 8 goals recently lost 4-0, so anything is possible.”