Boss says it will be another tough test against one of the newly promoted sides.
Crewe Alexandra host another of the newly promoted sides this weekend and David Artell says that the home encounter with Cambridge United will be just as tough as facing Cheltenham and Morecambe. Crewe failed to win either of those games at the Mornflake Stadium with a 1-1 draw against Cheltenham on the opening day, followed more recently by a disappointing 3-1 home loss to the Shrimpers.
Mark Bonner’s Cambridge side finished runner-ups to League Two champions, Cheltenham Town last season and they have made a steady start to life in the higher tier. They are currently 15th in the table and have a game in hand on Crewe and others after only playing nine games.
Artell told the club’s official website: “Cambridge will be another of the unfashionable and not fancied side in the division but they are here on merit, like everyone else. They have just the same right to be in League One as us, as Sunderland, as Ipswich because they have earned it.
“They deserve to be here and it will be another tough game. They have come up from League Two after a successful season and the newly promoted sides are usually on the crest of a wave. They have built some momentum from being successful and carried that through.
“It was the same last year, ourselves and Plymouth stayed up comfortably. Northampton and Swindon went down in the end, but you could say that Swindon were greatly affected by off-the-field problems which didn’t help.
“The four promoted sides do not necessary make up the bottom four. Football doesn’t work like that and we have faced two tough games against Cheltenham and Morecambe. Cheltenham got a huge helping hand with their goal, but I thought Morecambe were good and deserved their victory.
“We know that we will have to play well to get a result against Cambridge. They have made a steady start to the season and picked up some good results.
He added: “The momentum they built last season, as a promotion winning team, means that they are used to winning games and they are a challenge. Mark has done a terrific job and they will not make it comfortable for anyone.”