Boss praises his players and fans for keeping going right to the death.

David Artell said it was all a great day all round after his Crewe Alexandra side came from behind again to claim all three points agaisnt a stubborn Northampton Town side. The Alex made a slow start and found themselves 1-0 down in the opening minutes after Ricky Holmes was there to convert a well worked free-kick that had caught us off guard in our defending.

Crewe dominated the possession and continued to move the ball around with real purpose and that pressing finally paid off with Owen Dale equalising on 53 minutes before midfielder, Ryan Wintle, popped up with a dramatic winner in stoppage time from a Harry Pickering assist. It was no more than Crewe deserved.

Following the 2-1 win, Artell told the club’s official web-site: “It was no more than we deserved and if it was a boxing match it would have been stopped after an hour. It was four, five or six I don’t think they could have complained.

“We kept going and the players deserve great credit for that and it took a knockout punch in stoppage time to settle it. I am just delighted for the 2,000 fans who were here to see it. They were terrific and we missed them. They cheered the players on and made a difference. It was great to have them back. I smelled the chippy for the first time in nine months in the warm up and thought, that's more like it, we're back!

“The fans also saw that Northampton were time wasting from mid-way through the first half and maybe that plays a part in the officials giving it five minutes rather than four, I don’t know.

“I came out for the warm up and they clapped and I’ve never had that before. It was very much appreciated and maybe they have forgotten they hate me! I am only kidding, they were terrific all afternoon and they played their part too. It has been a long time, and a tough 9 months and I am delighted for them today and for all the Crewe fans who cannot come yet.

“We gave away a sloppy goal from a set play early on. Northampton pride themselves on their set-pieces and we have conceded a goal from one after 3 minutes. It wasn’t the ideal start but I would much rather concede after 3 minutes than with 3 minutes left.

“We stuck to the game plan, we went over one or two things at half-time and I don’t think the sending off made the difference either. The pattern was set way before that and I sensed it was coming. We had enough chances before that but the players kept going and it paid off for us.

“Owen is in good form and it’s another goal for him. We have three good wide men in form. We felt Charlie needed a bit of a breather, he has had that and he has been excellent for us in the last two games.

“We dominated the game, especially in that second half and it was no more than we deserved when Ryan popped up with that winning goal. It made it a great day all round and I am delighted.”