Crewe Alexandra boss David Artell is looking forward to a good quality game of football this evening as Forest Green Rovers roll into South Cheshire for the first time in their history for our re-arranged EFL Two fixture. The league fixture was quickly re-arranged for tonight after it was previously postponed due to heavy snow on 3rd March.
Artell is an admirer of the way Mark Cooper sets up his sides and he is expecting a passing game from both teams this evening.
Ahead of tonight’s game, Artell told us: “John Dillon (analyst) gave me a stat the other day that showed that Forest Green keep the ball the longest in the division. That is to say that before they score a goal they retain possession the longest, which means they like to pass the ball.
“We know they keep the ball well. We have watched them enough times to know that Mark Cooper sticks to his philosophy and his principles, which is very condemnable in this division. They play the right way.
“They have added more players in January and that has increased their size and their physicality, so you also have to stand up to that side of their game as well. They have spent some money and have managed to get some decent players in like Rueben Reid for example.
“We will try and impose ourselves on the game and pass the ball as well, so it should be a game for the purest. We know that we have enough inside our dressing room to be a match for them. It doesn’t matter to me who we play, if that is Coventry, Forest Green or Barnet, we go looking to win.”