David Artell hails Crewe ambition in narrow victory over Cheltenham - 7M sport

David Artell hails Crewe ambition in narrow victory over Cheltenham



Posted Sunday, January 19, 2020 by PA

David Artell hails Crewe ambition in narrow victory over Cheltenham

David Artell said he implored his Crewe players to show better quality to secure victory over promotion-rivals Cheltenham after an uninspiring first-half in their 1-0 Sky Bet League Two win at Gresty Road.

The Railwaymen’s skipper Perry Ng responded to the challenge when he blasted a super finish into the bottom corner to settle a tight encounter.

Crewe boss Artell said: “At half-time I told the players they needed to be more ambitious. I asked them, ‘Who is going to show something and produce a great bit of play rather than us keep passing square’?

“And after the break we were much more ambitious and were looking to score goals.

“Cheltenham’s game plan was to sit in and nick a goal on the break. But in the second half there was only going to be one winner. We showed greater intensity and 1-0 was about the right scoreline.”

Right-back Ng’s 69th-minute effort ended a personal goal drought stretching back to April 20, 2018 and left Cheltenham to rue first-half misses from Alfie May and Alex Addai.

May’s pace and instinct got him clear of the Crewe backline twice in the first-half. First he lofted an effort tamely into the hands of goal keeper Will Jaaskelainen, yet when he squared for Addai instead of applying a finishing touch, the Robins frontman got his legs in a tangle and miscued with an empty net gaping in front of him.

“I’ve watched that back on the video and I don’t know how Alex missed that,” admitted Cheltenham boss Michael Duff as his side lost for the first time in five games and for the first time on their travels in the league since August 31.

But Duff added: “There are no panic stations on our part. We have got to realise how far we’ve come. We’ve just lost 1-0 away to one of the best two teams in the league.

“We let Crewe have the ball for long periods, but they were never hurting us and we had a threat on the counter. If it had finished 0-0 I don’t think anyone would have had any qualms.”

Crewe had chances too during an even first-half contest. Veteran Paul Green saw a header deflected onto the roof of the net and his youthful midfield colleague Tommy Lowery forced a great save from goalkeeper Owen Evans.

On-loan Blackpool defender Michael Nottingham made a solid debut for Crewe, but it was the Robins’ rearguard action that appeared to be strangling the hosts’ attacking ideas.

But Ng made the breakthrough, giving Evans no chance with a fierce low drive.

Artell added: “It’s Perry’s first goal this season. He’s got terrific quality and he has scored them off his left foot before.

“He has got to do it more often when he gets into those positions.”

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