David Artell says that a hard working display against Wigan Athletic has provided a foundation to take into the final 14 games of the season.

Crewe were beaten 2-0 at the DW Stadium following two second half goals finally broke our resolve and Artell says that his side have to show the same endeavour in the remaining games. Wigan deserved the three points to keep their automatic promotion alive but Crewe can take heart from the performance.

Artell told the club’s official website: “I don’t want to accept defeat but the performance certainly gives us a foundation. It was full of effort and endeavour and the second goal, a deflected goal has killed us off. At that point, I thought it was a bit harsh because we were in the game.

“We got caught out at the throw in. We expected the long throw, they have played in short and Lang has got across his man to get a free header.

“I thought we showed some real heart and on another night we could have got something. We cannot accept anything less than they showed this evening. That has got to be the case in every game and not just at Wigan.

He added: “Wigan are a good team. We know that and they are a Championship side in everything but name at the moment, and we have to take the heart from that and have that belief in the remaining games. To a man it was a better tonight and we have to continue in that vein to give ourselves a chance to get some points.”