David Artell has been pleased with the way his players have responded in training following back-to-back defeats to Mansfield and Northampton.

The Alex boss says that training has been really positive ahead of this weekend’s FA Cup clash with Carlisle United at Gresty Road.

David told the club’s official website: “We have had a really good week of training. The players have responded really well to the two defeats and it’s been a really positive and productive week.

“Having Carlisle helps us in a way. We know all about them and their players, so we know they have League Two standard players like we have. It isn’t as though we have a League One side or a non-league side that we don’t know so much about.

“On one hand you can have Weston-Super-Mare as an example and you know they don’t have League Two players but they throw up different challenges. We can prepare for Carlisle like any normal League Two game if you like.

He added: “The aim will be to win the game and get through to the next round. We have two cup games coming up in a short space of time and if we can win them both then we would be into the next round of two competitions and it would be worth a few bob to the club as well.”