Crewe Alexandra boss David Artell has warned his players against the dangers of complacency after comfortably racing into a 3-0 lead at Altrincham on Friday evening. Crewe were too much for Altrincham in the opening half an hour and could have even added to the three goals we did score through Perry Ng, Jordan Bowery and Ryan Wintle but we didn’t hit those same heights in the second half.

Afterwards Artell told the players that the warning signs were there about indulging in bad habits when the game appears won.

David Artell told crewealex: “We were comfortable and we took our foot off the gas in that second half. You can be your own worst enemy when you do that and you cannot afford to do it.

“When you invite pressure on the game can soon change. You concede one and it gives the opposition a path back into the game. They get another and the pressure really builds. We were our own worst enemies at times last season. We did it at places like Forest Green, Swindon and Wycombe. We know it can happen and we don’t want to get into those bad habits.

“We spoke about it after the game. We don’t want those bad habits around the corner when the game seems won. We just have to continue to be as ruthless as we were and not fall into that trap.

The boss added: “The players took in on board. They knew they had to keep the ball better and manage the game better.”