Manager Lee Bell was in jubilant mood after Crewe’s 3-2 success over Rochdale set a record-breaking start to a league campaign.

Matus Holicek’s thumping finish and a double from Jordan Gibson was enough to stave off a second-half fightback from Dale and leave Crewe unbeaten in the first 11 games this term.

Bell said: “It’s a big achievement with the club being 150 years old (in 2027) and for my players and staff to hold that record outright.

“That’s what it takes to win a game in this league as Rochdale were on a run of five games unbeaten and played some good football, although I didn’t think they threatened us with that.

“But when you’re 3-0 at home you do want it to be more comfortable than it was. They brought their big No 9 on (Emmanuel Dieseruvwe) and it was hard to contain them.

“However, I thought there were plenty of opportunities for us to score a couple more goals which is what we have got to do. I want us to be an attacking side who play on the front foot most of the time.

“Our second goal was really terrific. Owen Lunt is a beast and he floored their lad fairly to set up Jordan, which is exactly what we needed.”

Crewe struck twice inside six minutes with first Holicek picking the ball up from Gibson and unleashing a drive from outside the box, which goalkeeper Sam Waller got a hand to, after 39 minutes.

Young Chelsea loanee Kaiden Wilson was then brushed aside too easily by Owen Lunt and the midfielder squared the ball across the box for Gibson to tap in on the stroke of half-time before the latter poked in from 10 yards 10 minutes into the second half.

Dale cut the arrears when Glenn Middleton’s cross diverted off Joel Tabiner in the 65th minute and Aden Flint headed in substitute Ed Francis’ cross from close range in the closing stages.

It was a first league defeat in six games for Dale and boss Ian Watson said: “The frustrating thing was the way we conceded the goals – one from our set-piece and two from our corners, and we’d spoken to the players that Crewe’s strength was in the transition (of play).

“But our performance was good and we got into some good positions. It was two good teams giving everything.

“The players didn’t give up and did everything to get us something out of the game. The boys who came off the bench impacted it and changed the dynamic of it.”