Just 3 defeats in 18 games but boss targets more wins in run-in.

David Artell says that his side’s tremendous run of only three defeats in the past 18 League One games is ‘a very good stat to have, but he is targeting more wins as we enter the final 14 games of the season.

Crewe head to Lincoln City this weekend on the back of remaining unbeaten against fellow promotion hunters, Accrington Stanley, Sunderland and Blackpool.

Ahead of our trip to The Imps, the gaffer told the club’s official website: “To have only lost three games out of the last 18 in this league is a good stat to have, a very good one.

“I wouldn’t have thought there are many teams in this league who have done that, so that is good to know.

“The credit for that goes to the lads and how hard they have worked.

“Others can judge our work and if they say nice things about us then that is great too. I will just get on with the job and if respect comes with that then so be it.

“We do have the lowest budget in the league and that is not me moaning or criticising other clubs who do have more, that is the reality.

“When I refer to us as ‘little old Crewe’ that is what I mean. In my opinion we are the underdogs every week when it comes to the resources available to us and like I’ve said that is not us moaning because we know what we are.

He added: “When people speak favourably about us they are talking about matters that happen on the pitch and I think we can compete against one in this league on our day.”