No mid-week fixture and time to work with his players has made it a productive week ahead of the first local derby of the season. Crewe host near neighbours Port Vale tomorrow and manager David Artell says it has been a good week of preparation.

Talking ahead of the Port Vale game, Artell said: “The week has gone well. We haven’t had a mid-week game, so we have been able to get out on the training ground and really work with the players.

“We have been able to work on a few things and been able to refine one of two things from Cheltenham. The preparation has been good and we are all looking forward to the big game this weekend.

“We will know how well that preparation has gone at around 5pm tomorrow. I’m sure it will be a similar game to last season. I am sure they will come flying at us - but it is up to us to get the ball down, have that courage to play and make the right decisions. “