Looking back over the season, David Artell says that late defeat at Forest Green prompted a impassinate plea to the squad.
Crewe Alexandra manager David Artell believes that the watershed moment of our season came in the minutes following our late 3-2 defeat at Forest Green Rovers in November.
Crewe had led 2-1 going into the closing minutes of the game at a rain hit New Lawn, but Artell believes that at that point in the season it was almost inevitable we would go on to lose once Mark Cooper’s side equalised.
The defeat left Artell fuming and he made an impassioned speech to his underachieving players about the importance of remaining in the EFL for the future of the youngsters in our Academy.
Artell believes that the statement resonated with his squad and he firmly believes that it was the moment we began to become mentally stronger.
Crewe ended the season in great form, winning six of our final nine games to finish on 56 points and in the safe position of 15th.
Artell revealed to the club’s official website: “Looking back on the season, I think one of the pivotal moments was the late defeat at Forest Green. We conceded two late goals to lose 3-2 and I had a bit of a go at them. I didn’t do it very often.
“They had their heads bowed because it was a game we should never have lost. I told them that if they didn’t want to run around for me or for the Football Club then they should do it for the young kid in the Academy who dreams of being in their shoes. They were once their age and wanted to be professional footballers.
“I think that hit a nerve and a lot of them raised their heads at that point. I know they felt that responsibility and from that moment on, it helped turn our season around. It was a slow process because we had a lot of work to do but they worked their socks off and got there.”