Bell wants youngsters to be targeting first-team

Crewe Alexandra manager Lee Bell has said the youth players who got their first-team opportunity in Tuesday's Jersey Mike Trophy tie against Blackpool have to use the experience as motivation to get more opportunities. The Alex started with 16-year-old striker Joel Ewusi and centre-back Tom Graves, 17, in the 2-2 draw against the Tangerines - before losing on penalties - with debutant striker Noah Bell and full-back Ryan Chadwick, both 17, coming off the bench in the second half. "The character they showed and the way they tried to apply themselves in the game, I thought we were tremendous," Bell told BBC Radio Stoke. "For the younger players, what they have to do is they can't rely on being out there they've now got to show that again on Saturday. "For the youth team that has to be a must - the same attitude, same desire, same wanting to improve and listening to their coaches, because they won't get picked for the next time it comes around if they don't. "We're monitoring all that type of stuff all the time, the work rate in training, so they've got to now go and produce it, they can't have that lull after such a high of playing." The game also saw Sheffield Wednesday loanee Charlie McNeill score his first goal for the club to force the match to penalties and then convert his spot-kick in the shoot-out, which Crewe lost 4-2. Although McNeill has featured in all nine League Two games so far, he has only started twice and Bell said he understands the player's frustration. "He's going to be annoyed, as long as [he's] annoyed with me and not his performance. "I thought his attitude was absolutely brilliant. He's chomping at the bit to get a start and he tucked away two penalties - I think it will do him the world of good. "He's going to get his opportunity and he's definitely going to score goals for us." All the latest Crewe Alexandra news