CREWE Alexandra are struggling to find consistency again after starting the new season with an unbeaten run of four games.

They have struggled to follow up one good result with another since.

So after knocking League One side Rotherham out of the FA Cup at the weekend the Railwaymen were beaten 4-2 at Port Vale in their final Checkatrade Trophy group game.

Alexandra boss says David Artell admits: “When we are good, we are very good.

"We seem to raise our game and play well against the better teams if you like. We played well to beat Notts County and we did the same in the second half to knock Rotherham out of the FA Cup.

“When we are playing top of the league or a club from a higher league, we seem to lift ourselves to that level but when the mind-set is not on it and there is something not quite right, we struggle.

“Maybe it is those little things that are affecting us and preventing us from becoming consistent but we cannot afford to keep on winning one and then losing the next one.

“The key is for us to be at it every game. We have got to treat every game and every opponent as if it is a cup tie or that we are facing the team at the top of the league.

He added: “It is up me and the staff to make sure that the players believe that they can reach those levels of performance time and again. They have shown it but we can’t quite achieve it on a consistent basis.”

Alex entertain Lincoln City in the league on Saturday.