David Artell described his centre-halves, Omar Beckles and Olly Lancashire, as the best two players on the pitch against Plymouth Argyle last night.

The wide men, Charlie Kirk and Owen Dale, may have deserved the plaudits after their first half goals won the game but Crewe were equally impressive at the back.

The Railwaymen restricted the Pilgrims to just three efforts at Will Jaaskelainen’s goal and a Luke Jephcott goal five minutes from time gave the visitors a hope of salvaging something from the game.

Crewe deservedly held on to claim all three points and the only real disappointment was that we didn’t take more of our chances and keep that clean-sheet.

Artell said of his two central defenders: “The first thing I said to them afterwards was the centre-halves were exceptional. They were the best two players on the pitch.

“They are buying it to what we about and they had to cope with different challenges. They went with one up front with Frank Nouble and then with two and put some darters up there to try and get behind them.

The boss added: “It was a totally different challenge in and out of possession to the Northampton game but whatever Plymouth threw at them they knew the answers. They were terrific for us all night.”