Lee Bell is prepared to risk Crewe Alexandra players making mistakes, in order to get the side playing the brand of football he wants to see.

The Manager was referring to Northampton’s winning goal at the weekend, which saw skipper Luke Offord dispossessed as he tried to play out from the back.

Though the boss admits the goal was avoidable, and the defending could have been much better after the home side took possession, he will not discourage him men from trying to play his way.

Bell said: “It was an avoidable goal but if we are asking them to play the way we want them to, mistakes are going to happen.

“Unfortunately, this time, it ended up with a goal, but we trying to play a certain way. You could see that in the midfield too – I was happy with how we looked in there. We want to play to our strengths, not those of the opposition.”

Louis Appere’s strike proved to be the difference between the side’s at Sixfields.

Bell is now preparing his men for the long trip to Gillingham on Tuesday (7.45pm).

He added: “There isn’t much between the teams at the top of the table and lower down in terms of quality, but consistency is the difference – the top teams hit a level we are striving to get to.  

“We aren’t happy with losing, even if it is teams at the top of the table. We have to dust ourselves down and get ready to go in a tough test at Gillingham.”