Crewe Alexandra boss David Artell says tonight’s opponents Hartlepool United deserve ‘great credit’ for regaining their EFL status.

Hartlepool won promotion back to League Two following their play-off victory following a dramatic penalty shoot-out win over Torquay United at Ashton Gate.

It ended their stay out of the Football League which stems back to 2017 when they were battling it out with the likes of Crewe to remain in the EFL.

Artell told crewealex.net: “Hartlepool have regained their league status and they deserve a lot of credit for that. It is not an easy league to get out of.

“During that time, we have gone up a league, while they had to take a step backwards to move forwards again. They are back in the EFL and heading in the right direction again and credit to them for that.

“All we have to do this evening is show that we have made more progress than them from the last time we met four and half years ago.”