Kenny Lunt says that the players have to continue to strive for consistency as they aim to discover a winning formula away from home. Crewe were beaten 3-2 by AFC Wimbledon in mid-week and now travel to Ipswich this weekend aiming to get that first away win in the league on the board.

The club’s assistant manager believes that the whole squad has to contribute by raising their own personal levels to make the competition for places as competitive as ever.

Lunt told the club’s official website: “We need eight, nine, ten of our players to be playing at their levels. We cannot have three or four below par like they were on Tuesday night because it makes it more difficult.

“It is trying to discover that consistency and making sure that you play well enough to keep the shirt. If you are not in the team you have to train well, play consistency well and put pressure on those ahead of you.

“We need more consistency from those who are playing and more of a challenge from those who are not.

“Players are at different levels of their development and there may be different reasons for their consistency levels dropping. A young player may be finding his way, others may find it difficult to play Tuesday, Saturday, Tuesday.

“Zac for instant was asked to step up to the first team and find his feet and now we have asked him to play three games in a week. There are a lot of factors but the more the players reach their own standards the better we will become.”