Back-to-back wins 'mean nothing' - Crewe boss Bell

Lee Bell says his Crewe squad will maintain their measured approach and not get carried away by successive wins in League Two

Crewe Alexandra boss Lee Bell says it is important for his squad to remain "steady and consistent" and has reminded them that their back-to-back wins "don't mean anything".

The Alex have responded to successive defeats in style with victories over Notts County and at Harrogate in their last two League Two games.

That mini run has lifted Bell's side into the top seven, into fifth, two points off the top three.

"It's really important [getting two wins in a row]," Bell told BBC Radio Stoke.

"Obviously we try to win every match, and that spell we went though, people could think the confidence wasn't there with the players, but they have been brilliant."

Crewe's run of five games without a win drained some of the momentum from their excellent start to the campaign that saw them win their first four matches.

But Bell has been pleased with how his squad have stuck to their principles during that testing period.

"I think it's important you stay steady. We've not had any radical formation changes when we're losing to try to get a result. It's not been drastic. It's been steady, and we've not panicked," he said.

"You're trusting the players and giving them ownership in terms of stepping up; they have a drive to achieve something. We've stayed consistent.

"Consistency in team performance, in individual performances and not making mistakes that lead to goals.

"Wins help build momentum. We didn't win games in those five games, and it would've been easy to look at the negatives, but, in the background, we've been going on about the same messages because we knew it would turn.

"Two wins doesn't mean anything. They're done, and it's on to Saturday. We have to be ready."

'We want some clean sheets'

As Bromley visit the Mornflake Stadium at the weekend, Bell is aware some may point to his side's small number of clean sheets so far.

The Alex have two in their 11 games, but Bell says, as important as a tight defence is, he has more of a focus on sharpening his side's goal threat.

"Clean sheets are something that people go on about a lot but generally, I prefer to have lots of goals in the game," he said.

"I don't want to be conceding goals because it gives us a mountain to climb.

"We want to collect some clean sheets, but you don't want to go the other way, and it's clean sheets and no goals or action at the other end.

"But I'm mindful the goalkeeper and defenders want a clean sheet sooner rather than later."

Lee Bell was speaking to BBC Radio Stoke's Graham McGarry and Matt Sandoz.