DAVE Artell is drawing lessons from Crewe's 2012 promotion to inspire his players to make a late dash for a top-six finish.

Tuesday night's home win (1-0) over Doncaster left the 12th place Alex only four points behind Portsmouth in sixth, although they have played more games than all but leaders Hull and Charlton among the top-half table clubs.

But with 12 games left to play, starting with the visit of in-form Burton Albion tomorrow (K.O 3pm), Artell recalled the 2011/12 successful play-off campaign in League Two during his time as club captain.

Crewe were placed 15th at the turn of the year, but Steve Davis' side went on a 16-game unbeaten run before beating Southend and Cheltenham in the play-offs.

Artell said: "When I was here as a player and we got promoted I think we were only in the play-off places for two weeks, but that was the last two weeks of the season.

"We went on a long unbeaten run, but we were coming from a much lower point. So we've got to keep believing that we can get there because that is what it was like when I was a player and it can happen again."

Maintaining some impressive home form will be a prerequisite to fuelling a late charge, but the Crewe boss insists there will have to be an improvement on the club's away results.

The midweek win extended Crewe's unbeaten run at Gresty Road to 11 games and seven of those fixtures have ended in wins. But the Railwaymen haven't won on their travels since December 19 when they beat AFC Wimbledon 2-1.

"If we're mid-table then it shows we've got to improve our away form and that will probably define where we end up this season," added Artell.