Carlisle United boss Steven Pressley insists there is no bad blood with his Crewe counterpart David Artell despite last season’s bust-up.

The two sides meet today (Brunton Park, 3pm) for the first time since February’s stormy encounter at the Alexandra Stadium.

That saw Carlisle’s Jamie Devitt sent off for an alleged stamp on Crewe’s Perry Ng, with Pressley later accusing Artell of “double standards” with his critical post-match comments.

Pressley, though, said there is no ill-feeling between the two bosses – and claimed that in fact they are good friends.

“Just so you know, their manager [Artell] is actually on my diploma course and we get on really well,” United’s manager said.

“There is no bad blood. We actually get on really well!

“Sometimes things happen at pitchside, issues arise, but that’s football. As soon as the game finishes that’s it done in my eyes.

“What I’d also say is the vast majority of our group that played that day are no longer here – it’s a brand new group of players, so I’m not sure it's going to have the impact or carry the type of grudges that sometimes happen in football.”

Pressley said he wants his team to play with “intent and energy” in a bid to derail Crewe’s strong start to the season.

Artell’s fourth-placed side are a point from the top of League Two, having lost just once on their travels.

Pressley’s 18th-placed Blues are continuing to seek consistency. The manager could again use a 3-5-2 formation after switching to that system at Newport last weekend.

It was also used in Carlisle’s reserves against Rangers in midweek.

Pressley feels it is a good formation for his side but says its effectiveness comes down to how players go about their work. He said: “I keep having to remind our players, of course systems can help players but it’s how you work in the system.

“If we go 3-5-2 and don’t play with the same intensity and energy as we did at Newport, it will be less effective.

“It was same with the reserve team against Rangers – the reason it was effective was because they worked so tirelessly within that system.

“That will decide things. The system can suit the players but within it they’ve got to work hard.

Pressley is unlikely to tinker much with the side that faced Newport, with Hallam Hope having turned down the chance of a Barbados call-up in favour of remaining with the Blues.

Nathan Thomas may not be involved again as he recovers from illness, while Pressley will make a late decision on whether to include fit-again Stefan Scougall among his subs.

Carlisle’s manager wants his side to build on their Newport performance as they return to Brunton Park today. He said: “I think you will win more games than you lose if you have the type of effort, commitment and resilience we showed.”