Crewe Alexandra manager David Artell has told the club’s official website that Carlisle United’s involvement in an FA Cup replay against Sheffield Wednesday next week will have no bearing on this weekend’s game.

Artell is expecting another tough away assignment at Brunton Park, but he points to last season’s superb 2-0 win victory over the Cumbrians as the perfect away performance.

Our former striker Shaun Miller was sent-off after 51 minutes back in March, but Crewe had already taken the lead through the on-loan Callum Cooke. Jordan Bowery added a second on the hour mark as Crewe made a significant step towards survival.

Ahead of our trip to Carlisle, Artell said: “I don’t think that their FA Cup replay will have any bearing on the game. Why would it? I don’t think we would be thinking about a Cup replay if we had a game coming up first.

“I really don’t think that happens and I know Keith (Curle) won’t be thinking about that. It will be a tough game and it is always a difficult place to get a result but we won their last season, so that will be the plan again.

“The players have had a little break and are ready to go. We go into the game with three wins out of five over the festive period. That is not a bad return. It is not great but it is okay.

“They have had a mental and physical break now and we need to extend our recent good run. “