David Artell says that the club’s key fixtures against Fleetwood Town, AFC Wimbledon and Doncaster Rovers will determine if can acquire enough points to stage a dramatic escape from the League One drop zone. With just seven games remaining, starting with a home encounter against Fleetwood this weekend, Artell knows that time is running out.

Bottom club, Crewe, are in desperate need of a mini-run in the final month of the season to stand any chance of survival.

Artell told the club’s official website: “We know that we have seven games left and that the games are ticking away. We have three out of four fixtures with clubs that are down there with us and if we win all three then we have a chance, if we don’t then we will four left and it will extremely difficult.

“If we slip up now then we have no chance and we have got to produce a run that we haven’t had this season and if we can then we are still in it. If we don’t then it will be over.

“We have to got to reiterate the importance of these seven games without putting the fear of God into the players. They know that this has to be the moment.”