Lee Bell praises goalscorer Josh March after Crewe maintain 100 per cent start

Lee Bell praised Josh March for an opportunistic finish which ensured Crewe maintained their 100 per cent start to the campaign.

March surprised Northampton’s Zach Jeacock when he slipped back onto the pitch to seize the ball as the keeper played it out inside his box to finish into the net.

Cobblers boss Chris Hogg said the circumstances of March’s 53rd-minute goal were a “grey area” in the rules.

Alex boss Bell, though, was delighted as the decisive moment was one of the few times the Railwaymen threatened during the game.

“It was bright thinking from Josh as he caught the keeper out. It was a bizarre goal, but I think he went off the pitch naturally, although I am not sure about the rules there,” admitted Bell.

“As long as we are winning that’s all that matters. I was really pleased to win the game and there were lots of positives to take out of it in terms of our defending. While we do need to be better at the start of games, we were solid in large parts defensively.

“We will keep going, keep building and I am sure the performances will come.

“Josh Stephenson is a good talent and it was excellent the way he came into a game like that to make his debut. He was excellent aerially and Kyle Ure got minutes under his belt too when he came on. All of our loan players will get their opportunity.”

Without suspended skipper Mickey Demetriou, Brentford youngster Stephenson started a day after sealing a loan deal to run until January at the Mornflake Stadium. And the 20-year-old made a confident start, claiming the man-of-the-match award for his solid display in the home defence in which keeper Tom Booth also excelled.

Booth, who has pounced on the opportunity presented by an injury to first- choice keeper Ian Lawlor, produced a couple of excellent saves to thwart Elliott List in the closing minutes.

Logan Briggs and Harvey Saunders wasted first-half chances for the visitors and James Maxwell struck the post, but the Cobblers, relegated from League One last term, are still seeking their first success since February 7.

Hogg is hoping new signing Nathan Opoku will remedy his side’s lack of goals thus far after signing permanently from Leicester. The Ghanian striker will need international clearance first, but is expected to be available at Gillingham next weekend.

Hogg said: “I will be excited to see Nathan. We can’t do everything in the window, but good things are happening.

“We have to be more ruthless in the final bit. Our supporters turned up in numbers today and tried to push us back into the game. We have to improve and be more consistent over 90 minutes – and I have got to do a better job as well.”