Boss praises match winner Dale after his positioning again claims all three points for the Alex at Shrewsbury.

David Artell says it was important that the mind-set of last night’s match winner, Owen Dale, did not change with the arrival on loan of Stephen Walker.

Dale was in the right place again to turn in Travis Johnson’s deflected cross and that gave Crewe all three points following a really dogged display at Shrewsbury.

Artell said that he spoke to the young winger prior to the game at the New Meadow because of his ‘loose performance’ when coming as a substitute in the 1-1 draw at home to Ipswich on Saturday.

Dale replaced Walker earlier on in the second half against the Tractor Boys and didn’t have the impact he would have wanted because in the opinion of his boss, he wanted to make too much of an impression again.

Artell explained to the club’s official website: “I spoke to Owen in training after the Ipswich game. I just said to him ‘that I hoped the arrival of Stephen (Walker) wouldn’t change his mind-set?’ We spoke about it and how I felt that when he came on against Ipswich, he played at 100mph again. He was a bit loose in possession.

“I told him that was the Owen Dale of 12, 18 months ago and told them that he didn’t need to go on and try to impress. We all know what we can do, so just relax and stay calm like he has been doing.

“There is no pressure coming from me or anyone else where Owen is concerned. He has done great for us and eight goals is a good return so far for a wide forward. He knows he should have had even more than that.

“I thought he came on against Ipswich and thought he had to create or try something different. I don’t know if that was to do with Stephen coming in or not but Owen just needed to stay calm and play his normal game.

“He did that against Shrewsbury. He was terrific again for us with and without the ball and he has popped up again at the far post and rolled one into the net again. Perfect, job done.”