Better from the Alex but still not vintage us says gaffer.

David Artell has told the club’s official website that Saturday’s performance against Shrewsbury Town was another step in the right direction.

The Alex boss says the dressing room was disappointed not to have registered that first league win of the season after going in at the break level due to Mikael Mandron’s fine finish on the stroke of half-time.

Crewe certainly had the chances to win the game but could also have lost it with Shrewsbury also having their shares of openings in an entertaining game.

Artell told the club’s official website: “We played a lot better and had good periods of possessions and had good chances. They weren’t necessarily long periods but I felt we controlled the game a lot more than we have been doing this season. It was an improvement.

“We were much more of a goal threat and you could see some of those relationships forming. There were some really good performances and no-one had a poor performance.

“It was a step in the right direction and that is what we want from them. Now they have to keep that going and carry on.

“We had patches of play, more so than we have been doing and when there was a break in play for a substitute for them, some of the lads came over and said that the winner was coming. Now it didn’t come, so there is the room for improvement right there.”