DAVE Artell believes Crewe will need to make more use of games they control if they are to push higher up the League One table next season.

The boss won't countenance any low end-of-season motivation, although three of the Alex's remaining games are deadrubbers against already-relegated Bristol Rovers on Saturday and the season finale against Shrewsbury.

But before those fixtures Crewe travel to the capital tomorrow where a Charlton side needing a win to get them back in the top six are likely to offer a formidable test.

Crewe may well seek to make the most of the counter attack at the Valley, but there have been a number of games this season where their dominance has not brought sufficient rewards - and that will have to change says their manager if they are to improve in League One.

They have dropped four points against struggling Rochdale, losing a 3-0 lead at Spotland and settling for a draw (1-1) at the weekend after Dale hit back deep in stoppage time to cancel out Charlie Kirk's last-minute effort.

While Artell has stressed that was probably a fair result, he noted: "It's the story of our season. If we had taken the points we should have taken we'd still have something to play for at the top end of the table. Can we rectify that? Yes we can.

"We've got to have more control in games which allow us to in the final 20 minutes.

"Then we've got to be more ruthless in games like the ones where we've had control, such as Gillingham, at home, and away at Ipswich, but then we've only taken one point from both.

"We chucked four points away in the games against Rochdale and coupled with the others we could have around 10 to 15 points more and that's the difference."

The manager added: "The transfer window gives us a chance to improve and as we improve well get better, and hopefully take more points [from games] than we have.

"But we have to play well in the last three games and go into the summer with more optimism."

The Alex boss confirmed, when asked, that his team selection for the final two games will be influenced by current contract negotiations with players. It seems unlikely that midfielder Ryan Wintle will be at Gresty Road next term and defender Omar Beckles has stalled on a potential new deal.

But there is unlikely to any experimentation in London and ahead of the clash (K.O 7pm) against Nigel Adkins' Addicks, Artell admitted: "It will be a case of little old Crewe rocking into town and we've got to make sure we're on it, we've got to be that small dog that's nipping at their heels.

"Charlton are a good team, with a good manager, good players and new owners. The Valley is one of those grounds you wish fans were in. It is a proper ground, they've got proper supporters and they're a proper football club, everything the European Super League doesn't recognise."

Crewe will travel in numbers to London tomorrow as Charlton have agreed to move forward the under-23s Professional Development League clash between the two sides by 24 hours.