Antony Evans is hoping his all-round performance against Portsmouth will earn him another opportunity against Wigan Athletic this weekend. The 22-year-old was handed just his third start for Crewe since completing a loan move in January on Tuesday evening and the former Everton trainee certainly took it in the goalless draw.

Evans hit a goal bound free-kick in the first half that needed the slightest of deflections to prevent it nestling in the Pompey top corner and his inventiveness from wide areas looked one of our best chances of breaking the deadlock.

David Artell was suitably impressed by Evans’ performance and now the SC Padermore loanee is hoping for another chance.

The Alex boss told the club’s official website: “It was a difficult shift against Portsmouth but it was important that we put a performance in after what happened on Saturday. I thought we deserved it.

“We went over the Oxford game as a group, both the good and the bad and it was mostly bad and the gaffer made it known what we expected from us.

“I spoke with him and asked him what he wanted from me and I thought he got what he asked for against Portsmouth. The next stage will be for me to deliver the goals, assists and create chances.

“I had to wait for my chance because I haven’t got as much game time as I would like from when I first came here on loan, but hopefully now I have done enough to start the next one and I can get a run of games under my belt.”