Cobblers boss Curle an Artell admirer but will be aiming to maintain winning run over Crewe

Keith Curle has had something of an Indian sign over Crewe Alexandra during his time as Cobblers boss - but he admits he is still a big admirer of boss David Artell and his team.
Sam Hoskins and Nicky Adams celebrate the former's goal in the Cobblers' 4-1 win over Crewe in November, 2019Sam Hoskins and Nicky Adams celebrate the former's goal in the Cobblers' 4-1 win over Crewe in November, 2019
Sam Hoskins and Nicky Adams celebrate the former's goal in the Cobblers' 4-1 win over Crewe in November, 2019

Since taking charge at the PTS in October, 2018, Curle has managed Town three times against the Railwaymen, and has enjoyed a victory on each occasion.

In the 2018/19 campaign the Cobblers won 2-0 home and away, and then last season the only meeting between the sides before the Covid-19 pandemic saw Town triumph 4-1 at the PTS Academy Stadium.

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On a couple of those days, Artell, a former Cobblers defender, made little secret of the fact that he felt his team had been hard done by, bemoaning Town's direct and physical approach.

Crewe Alexandra boss David ArtellCrewe Alexandra boss David Artell
Crewe Alexandra boss David Artell

Crewe are a team with a reputation for playing possession-based passing football, and although their philosophies appear to differ, there is clearly respect between both managers.

Crewe are also new to life in Sky Bet League One, having gone up automatically thanks to being in second place and five points clear of the fourth-placed team when the 2019/20 season was curtailed due to coronavirus.

The Cobblers joined them after their stunning play-off final success over Exeter City at Wembley, and both sides have adjusted pretty well to life at the higher level.

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Crewe are currently two points and three places better off than 16th-placed Town, and asked how he feels Artell and his players have coped with promotion, Curle said: "I think they have done very well.

David Artell spent an injury-hit 13 months as a Cobblers player from the summer of 2012David Artell spent an injury-hit 13 months as a Cobblers player from the summer of 2012
David Artell spent an injury-hit 13 months as a Cobblers player from the summer of 2012

"They have a way of playing and we will pay good attention to and will be very respectful of."

And he added: "I know David (Artell), I signed him a couple of times as a player, and I think he is a young manager that is gaining an identity.

"He's enjoying his role and he is enjoying his football, which I think is vitally important, and a plus side for me is that I like him as a person as well.

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"I signed him because he had a good understanding of the game, he knew his strengths and weaknesses, and was very honest.

"I think he has taken that into his managerial career as well, and he is doing very well for the football club.

"It was excellent for him to get that promotion last season so early in his career, and he is on an upward curve with the club."

Crewe go into their clash with the Cobblers having suffered something of a blip in form.

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In mid-November they were in great shape after sucessive wins over Peterborough United and Oxford United, but since then they have won just one of their past six matches in all competitions - 4-2 against Swindon Town - and went out of the Papa John's Trophy in midweek when they lost on penalties at Hull City, having drawn the match 0-0.

Crewe's main attacking threat will come from Michael Mandron, who has seven goals to his name so far this season, while Cobblers supporters will know all about winger Daniel Powell, who left Town to join the Railwaymen in the summer of 2019.

Alex will be without skipper Perry Ng who is serving the second game of a six-match ban for spitting water at Cheltenham Town coach Wade Elliott following Crewe's FA Cup first round defeat to the Robins.

Artell sent Ng to the PTS last Saturday to do a scouting report on the Cobblers!

Also missing for Crewe is attacking midfielder Callum Ainley who has undergone an operation on a hamstring injury.