David Artell says that the team spirit within the Crewe Alexandra camp remains high and has only improved following victory over the current league leaders, Peteborough United.

Superb first half goals from Harry Pickering and Charlie Kirk sealed a deserved 2-0 win at the weekend and now Artell wants to take that performance into tonight’s re-arranged encounter at Oxford. The match at the Kassam Stadium has twice been postponed due to Covid-19 issues.

Ahead of our trip to Oxford, Artell told the club’s official website: “The team spirit is strong here. We don’t have any idiots here and that perhaps wasn’t the case when we first took over. There were some perhaps in it for themselves but that certainly isn’t the case now.

“We have players here, who really want to be here and want to improve and develop. That is the environment we have created. There is no pressure on them. There is a fun element to it, but they are also here to learn and get better.

“I think when you offer that to anyone then they cannot fail to embrace it.

The boss added: “There is no-one here who gets above their station and we feel as those we have a strong squad and a good team. They want to learn and work hard at it every day to make sure that it happens.”