CREWE Alexandra made the perfect start to their Sky Bet League 2 campaign with a 6-0 home thrashing of visiting Morecambe.

Despite a mixed pre-season, which included one win, two draws and two defeats, The Alex were able to turn on the style against a hapless shrimps side, which sees them sit top of the table – for now at least.

Alex Nicholls scored a brace on his debut for the club after Charlie Kirk grabbed the Railwaymen’s first goal of the season inside five minutes.

James Jones also recorded a brace, including a stunning long-distance effort in injury time, with substitute Chris Porter also heading home in an emphatic victory.

Manager Dave Artell decided on making the one change from the side that secured a 1-1 draw with Blackpool a week previous in the final pre-season friendly, with Jones coming into the team for Callum Ainley and Dave Richards retaining his place in goal.

Fans will be happy to see how Crewe have continued the good run of form they started at the end of last season, during which they won four of the last five games and will be hoping it continues to grow when their team makes the trip to South Wales to take on Newport County.

The Alex will obviously take confidence from the way they played on Saturday, paired with the fact that the Welshmen went down 3-0 on the road at Mansfield.

They also hope to have club captain George Ray in contention to play, after he was forced off during their opening win following a knock to the ribs.

Artell rated him as 50/50 as to whether or not he would play, stating “we’ll wrap him up in cotton wool, but it will be touch and go.

“If he’s fit, he’s fit. It’s a long season with a lot of games to get through.”

Artell also refused to get carried away following his sides triumphant start, with there still being 45 games still to play.

“I think we’re going to score goals and be fine on that front. Our challenge is to better our defensive record from last year, and we’ve made a start on that.

“All in all though it was a good day and a great way to start the season – now we swiftly move on and get ready for the trip to Newport.”

Although it is easy to get carried away, a tricky run of fixtures loom for Crewe, with League One Fleetwood visiting Gresty Road on Tuesday in a Carabao Cup clash, followed by the visit of recently relegated MK Dons, and then back-to-back away trips to Colchester and Carlisle within four days.

Asked whether any further reinforcements would be due before the end of the transfer window, Artell remained coy, revealing “unless something comes a bit left-field, I’m expecting a quiet afternoon.

“It doesn’t mean to say that it won’t happen, because when the shop window is open, sometimes you have to do a bit of buying and selling.

“I’m not sure there’s going to be that much happening in League Two. I think the real window for our league is going to be the loan window at the end of the month.”