Lee Bell was full of praise for the defensive efforts of his players after they claimed all three points in the opening game of 2024.

Crewe Alexandra battled hard to keep a clean sheet against Bradford City, and Christopher Long’s penalty was enough to separate the sides at Mornflake Stadium.

Manager Bell said: “Those are the best wins! The boys defended the box magnificently. The main objective was a clean sheet, and we got it. It’s a really good start to the year.

“We knew we’d have to battle because you can’t stop balls being thrown into your box, it’s impossible. We played the game properly and the professionalism and the game management was excellent.”

Crewe moved up to sixth in League Two as a result of the 1-0 success.

Bell added: “They are just top fellas; good people who want to do well and churn out hard-working performances. That can take you a long way.

“They are an honest bunch who take in information, accept criticism in the right way, and they are a credit to themselves. Hopefully we keep getting backed by the fans because we need it.”