Midfielder believes this Alex side are playing some of the best football he has seen during his two spells at the club.

Experienced midfielder, Luke Murphy, says that some of the football this Crewe Alexandra side have played this season has rivalled that played when the club won promotion back in 2012.

Murphy was an integral part of the side that won the play-off final at Wembley against Cheltenham Town. The attacking midfielder was in a Crewe side under Steve Davis that included current boss, David Artell, Steve Phillips in goal, Ashley Westwood, Matt Tootle and the then Manchester United bound Nick Powell.

Murphy says that the Crewe side of 2020/21 can continue to surprise teams in League One this season.

Ahead of this weekend’s home fixture against Northampton Town, Murph said: “I definitely thing we can continue to surprise teams this season. We have played most of the top teams now, if not all of them, and we have shown we can compete.

“I know the lads are disappointed that we have not got more points than we have.

“I think teams are looking at how to stop us and that is a big compliment to the way we have played this season. We have a plan B and C and we have got to try and be effective if teams come and do a high press.

“I think anyone who has seen us on the internet can see that we have played some really good football. I would say it is the best I’ve seen and played in, even before I was here last time.

“We are unbeaten in two now and we have to keep on picking up results. If we can get that real winning mentality and make sure that we don’t lose those tight games 1-0 and turn them into draws or wins, like we did at Burton and win our home games then we have a great chance of having a successful season.

He added: “The lads have a winning mentality from last year after winning promotion but they also know that the standard in League One is a lot higher and you get punished more by the mistakes you make.

“But hopefully we can really push on in the second half of the season and get on a run.”