Defender on why fans have such an important part to play in final run-in

game for the club tomorrow and on the eve of a vital home clash with Coventry City, the 23-year-old has asked the supporters to raise the noise levels at the Alexandra Stadium. ^thCaptain Matt Tootle will mark his 200

Tootle has requested the full support of the Crewe faithful and says that with seven games to go in the season, the players need them more than ever.

Ahead of the home encounter with Coventry City, Tootle told crewealex.net: “With the way things have gone this season there have been people writing us off and we have used that as a motivation.

“Believe me all the lads are here believing and fighting to stay in this division. I know how the fans must feel when we play as well as we did at Gillingham and then can’t follow that up at home to Notts County. I can’t put my finger on it either and it is difficult to take for everyone when that happens.

“We haven’t been able to get too many back-to-back wins this season and it has been one of those seasons when we can’t find that consistency in our results.

“This is a plea to our fans because we have four home games left and if we can win three or four of them then that would go a long way to making us safe. We need the fans really with us like they have been. They have been unbelievable considering what we have gone through together this year and I am just asking them to get even more behind us and help us.

“They have to realise that they have such an important part to play to keep us up. I cannot thank them enough for all the support they have given us, but we need them to come along to the game and really get behind the lads. I know it can be difficult at times when things are not going right or we are not playing as well as we can, but that is when we need them even more.

“We know we have seven massive games coming up and the fans support will be vital.”