David Artell says it will be an intriguing tactical battle against his counterpart in the Blackpool technical area, Neil Critchley, this evening.

Despite being at Crewe both as a player and then as a highly respected coach for many years, Artell says that Critchley will have many tactical ideas up his sleeve to try and get the better of his former club.

For 90 plus minutes tonight, Critchley and his Blackpool side will be the enemy as we both hope to force our way closer to the play-off places –but afterwards Artell is hoping to pick Critchley’s brain once again.

Artell told the club’s official website: “We have a lot of respect for Neil due to his long association with club - but that doesn’t necessary mean we will know what he plans to do. I’m sure he will be the same and it will be an intriguing tactical battle.

“I haven’t got a clue what we will do! In the home game, he put the experienced Gary Madine in, to try and bully and unsettle Luke Offord, but we know that Luke can stand up to that. He has Ellis Simms on loan from Everton now and he has settled in really well and Jerry Yates, so we know that they have good, quality players. He has a few options.

He added: “We have to accept the challenge and perform as well as we did against Sunderland at the weekend. If we do then we have a great chance of getting a result.”