Crewe Alexandra boss David Artell has praised the response of Ben Garratt after the goalkeeper lost his place at the start of the season to his close friend David Richards.

Garratt started the new season on the sidelines and didn’t regain the number one spot until we were heavily beaten 6-0 at Colchester United at the end of August.

The Alex stopper has returned to some of his best form and has helped us keep a further five clean-sheets to go with Richards’ shut-outs against Morecambe and MK Dons.

Artell said: “Ben has been terrific for us since he came back into the side. He responded really well to being left out of the team at the start of the season and worked his way back in.

“It was a little kick up the backside he probably needed and he reacted in the right way. He has made some excellent saves, most notably against Grimsby when he was voted Man-of-the-Match and the back players have deserved the number of clean-sheets we have had.

“Ben can still improve. He knows that. We all make mistakes but they are always magnified when they happen to a goalkeeper. Overall though, I have been pleased with him and he has to keep it going.”