Crewe Alexandra manager David Artell says it will be another ideal test for his side against another of the division promotion hopefuls, Carlisle United, this weekend. Steven Pressley has recently succeeded the Chesterfield-bound John Sheridan as manager and the former Fleetwood and Coventry boss has continued to cement their place in the top four.

Carlisle will be aiming to avoid the play-off drama and end the season in one of the three automatic places. They arrive in south Cheshire this weekend as the in-form team in the division.

They are currently top of the form table ahead of Bury and Artell’s improving Crewe side. The Alex have already beaten table toppers Lincoln and play-off hopefuls Colchester at home and recently ended our barren away form with a superb 1-0 win at MK Dons.

Ahead of the weekend clash between two of the league’s most in-form sides, Artell said: “Carlisle are the in-form team in the league but we are in good form as well and our home results have been fairly consistent all season. We have to try and keep that going.

“We have watched their game at Port Vale on Saturday and people say Vale were unlucky with ten men and all that – but at the end of the game it was 1-0 to Carlisle. They picked up the points regardless of the performance or circumstances and that is what it is about, those fine margins.

The boss added: “We just have to focus on what we are doing. The belief is there and we have done reasonably well lately but we need more points to get where we want to go, so this is another home game we have to get something from. “