Following his side’s emphatic 4-1 win over Salford City this afternoon, David Artell praised his players for taking on board the tactical changes needed to unlock Graham Alexander’s well organised side in the second half.

The Railwaymen had been left frustrated in the first half with Adam Rooney taking advantage of a mistake to poke the visitors five minutes before the break. Crewe responded superbly to score four excellent goals and record our seventh win of the season.

After the 4-1 win, Artell told the club’s official website: “We didn’t say that much at half time just some tactical bits. Kenny (Lunt) had a bit of a go but it was more encouragement and finding ways to help them understand how they were stopping us. That is what we went through and you have to have the players to go out and carry that out.

“They have to have the skill and knowhow to do that and they have. We showed in that second half that we have good players.

“Last season if we conceded the first goal and were not playing well then that was terminal but its changed. They have plenty of ability to turn things around when we go a goal behind. They have the character to overcome set-backs.

On Tuesday night, Will saved a penalty and that went a long way to getting us three points. Today, his team-mates have dug him out of a hole. That as a small negative in what was an excellent second half performance from us.

“I heard one or two boo at half time and they entitled to do that but we are second in the league and doing okay, so I was like come off it a bit.

“We went through some pointers at half time to help them and they saw of went ‘that’s it’ but they have gone out and executed it. We were more free flowing, the decision making was better and it became a really pleasing afternoon for us.

“It is important that Chris scored a few minutes into the second half because goals change games. I always thought we would periods in the game because we have got good players. We have had chances in every game so far and I was thinking are we going to take them when they come?

“We have scored four outstanding goals. Tom has got two, Pixie has scored his first of the season and Chris has got another one as our main striker, so it was a really good afternoon.

He added: “We had done some work with Harry to get in that very position and he has been out there practicing shooting with both feet and it is amazing what practice does. You get a bit better don’t you.

“Tom has shown some incredible skill with his flick and then had the composure to sit the keeper down and dink it over him. It was an outstanding goal and I’m sure people will be on social media later saying how good it is.”