David Artell has told the club’s official website that he learnt a lot about his players following a superb 2-1 win at promotion hopefuls Mansfield Town on Saturday.

Crewe executed the game plan to perfection with Callum Ainley scoring both goals after coming off the substitutes’ bench. The result propelled Crewe to 12th in the table.

The Crewe boss told the club’s official website: “We knew that going away to Mansfield would be a tough test. They have one of the best home records in the division and do not concede too many goals.

“We knew it would be a real tough test but we thought we had the players who would be able to produce a top performance like that. They were all terrific and we learnt a lot.

“You learn a lot about your players when times are tough and you lose games but I think we learn a lot from Saturday’s game in a positive way.

“We proved that we can go away from home against one of the best sides in the division and win the game. It proved that we can go away from home and stand up to anything that a team like Mansfield can throw at us.

The boss added: “We have been labelled a soft touch in the past but I don’t think we can be perceived as that now with the results we have had against physically demands team.”