Late header nearly saw us snatch point and boss wants all of us subs to make similar impact as young midfielder.

David Artell has told the club’s official website that each and every member of his squad has to be ready for any eventuality after a number of his players were unavailable for Tuesday night’s encounter at Oxford due to the Norovirus.

Artell was forced to travel to the Kassam Stadium without a number of his squad and he also had to cope with losing a couple more through illness on the morning of the game.

That resulted in Crewe naming a number of young professionals on the bench but midfielder Regan Griffiths so nearly forced home an equaliser when replacing Josh Lundstram for the final 10 minutes.

With his first touch, the Liverpool-born Griffiths, steered a header from a Callum Ainley cross just wide and he was later presented with another chance inside the Oxford box that he just snatched at.

David Artell was pleased that the 21-year-old substitute nearly had the desired effect.

David told crewealex.net: “The players wouldn’t be here if we didn’t think they were good enough. That is the ones we have bought in and the ones we have developed through the Academy.

“Regan (Griffiths) came off the bench at Oxford and had two great chances. I don’t see that as a negative. I see that as a real positive that he came on and had an impact. He got in those positions and it was just a shame that he couldn’t take one or both of them.

“Regan made an impact in the final 7 minutes plus stoppage time and as a manager that is what you want to see.

“He played well last season in the Papa John Trophy games and got a taste of it. He also did well out on loan at Notts County, so now he has to kick on again and make sure he is in and around it because we are going to need him at some point.”