DAVE Artell has hailed his defenders for ensuring the absence of skipper Perry Ng has not undermined Crewe's progress.

Ng is serving out a six-game ban - his punishment for the water spitting incident in the FA Cup tie at Cheltenham last month - and will not be available again until the new year trip to Shrewsbury (January 2).

Crewe have won two of the three League One games Ng has missed and Artell is pleased with the work of a back four he has revamped by reintroducing Olly Lancashire and switching youngster Luke Offord into Ng's right-back berth.

Omar Beckles has also been asked to perform a more creative role and his work on the ball has impressed his manager.

"When you lose an influential player and your captain it could always upset the applecart," said Artell. "But we develop our players to play in a number of different positions. They have played enough games during their development years to know what they are doing.

"When things are not rosy for you if you keep on top of your game hopefully your luck at a football club will turn and that is what Olly has done, he's taken his chance and he is playing well.

"Omar hasn't probably played in a team before the way we play. He has to defend first and foremost but what was terrific in the Northampton game was the way he was setting up the attacks by moving into midfield.

"That may be alien for him and the first time he has to do that, but he hit a couple of brilliant diagonal balls and his passing was superb. Even at 29 he's got some development in him, particularly if he wants to go and play at a higher level."

Tuesday's home win over Plymouth (2-1) made it three wins in four for Crewe ahead of a first visit to AFC Wimbledon's new Plough Lane home tomorrow (K.O 3pm).

Artell believes there is a lot more to come from his team and admits the game with The Dons will stir up plenty of memories.

"AFC Wimbledon are a terrific football club with a great heritage. They're a community club who are doing it for the right reasons, and that is for the fans.

"And the manager Glyn Hodges is a good guy too, although hopefully we don't make him too happy tomorrow."

Meanwhile, in-form Alex attacker Owen Dale has credited his time out on loan at Witton and Altrincham for getting him ready to make inroads into the first team.

Dale, 22, spent the 2018/19 season on loan with Alty in the Conference North under former Nantwich Town boss Phil Parkinson.

He is enjoying his most prolific season to date with four of his six goals netted in his last four outings, including a stunning overhead kick at Burton.

"I learnt a lot under Phil Parkinson at Altrincham and it was a good experience. Getting game time is a massively important thing and I learnt a lot playing every Sunday/Tuesday," he said.

"Both Witton and Altrincham play football which suited me perfectly."

Dale added: "The Burton goal (overhead kick) gave me a real boost and I took it into the next game. It is part of my game that is coming together nicely.

"I have been working on the training ground so that when I go out on the pitch I aim to be calm and relaxed and don't rush or snatch at things."