David Artell was delighted to see his Crewe Alexandra side progress to the next knockout stage of the Papa John’s Trophy following a deserved 2-0 win over Doncaster Rovers. Well taken goals from Ben Knight and Oli Finney sealed the victory which sees Crewe through to the last 16 of the competition in the Northern Section.

Following the 2-0 win over Doncaster Rovers, Artell told the club’s official web-site: “We have been saying for a few weeks now that if we get the performances right then the results will take care of itself. The performance at Wimbledon was patchy and we didn’t get what we deserved at Ipswich on Sunday, but tonight we got what we deserved with the performance.

“We are getting there and we deserved to get through. Doncaster made three changes from the weekend and we made 8 or 9. That goes to show how far we have progressed over the last few weeks. We are getting there but we know we have a long way to go as well.

“I think we are heading in the right direction. I said at the start of the season that it would take a bit of time but we are improving and we have to take that into the Lincoln game.

“Playing Callum and Travis for 45 minutes was planned as was Madger and Lundstram and then being 2-0 up we gave Tabs more minutes.

He added: “We have won the game, kept a clean-sheet and injury free. I think Nathan (Woodthorpe) had a sore back and ankle but I expect him to be fine.”