Crewe Alexandra boss David Artell is hoping that his side can get a touch of luck in front of goal after failing to take full advantage of the number of chances created in our last two cup ties.

Crewe have exited both the FA Cup to Carlisle United and the Checkatrade Trophy to Shrewsbury Town in the matter of a few days, but Artell says that he had ample opportunities to have won both home games.

Jordan Bowery netted his sixth goal of the season to give us a late lifeline against the Shrews on Tuesday but again we were left ruing some missed opportunities in the game to have gone ahead and to have drawn level.

Crewe had failed to score in our last three games, so Bowery’s tidy finish was certainly a positive to take from the game.

The Crewe boss is hoping that we get a rub of the green against Tranmere Rovers this weekend.

He said: “We have created plenty of chances in the last couple of cup games to have won both games but we didn’t take them. If becomes what ifs and maybes but I was pleased that we have looked more threatening in the final third. It is just finding that finishing touch or having a bit of luck in front of goal.

“Shrewsbury’s first goal ended up hitting two of our lads on the line and in the second phase it has sliced off George Ray's foot and into our net.

“Carlisle’s goal was a freakish goal albeit from a couple of mistakes from us. Both goals at Northampton came from mistakes from us.

“We don’t seem to get goals like those. We need a few to hit the shin and go in for us. We have flashed a number of crosses across the six yard box in the last few games and they are golden chances. We haven’t reached them or they haven’t hit one of our players getting in there or one of their defenders facing his own goal.

The boss added: “We have not been ruthless enough but we tend to have work really hard to score a goal of our own. It would be nice if we got the rub of the green a bit more because I think we have deserved a bit of luck in the opposition penalty area as well.”