Alex boss Steve Davis wants his players to stand up and be counted at Gresty Road.

Steve Davis wants his players to play with courage when Gillingham arrive in South Cheshire this weekend.

The Railwaymen are still looking for their first home win of the season but will face Justin Edinburgh’s in-form side on the back of a morale boosting away win at Barnsley.

Crewe will be aiming to end a run of five straight home defeats but face a Gillingham side who are currently third in League One.

Ahead of this weekend encounter with the Gills, Steve told the club’s official web-site: “The players have to remain strong and it has to come from themselves. It is very hard to change someone. If someone has courage, they are likely to be courageous through their career and life, whatever they do.

“If someone is a bit frightened you can guarantee they will more of less live their live their life that way.

“Maturity can give them a bit of change and confidence but it has to come from within.

“They have to get used to being booed or mistakes, when they miss a chance, a tackle or header. That is part of football.

“You can never prepare a young player for thousands of people shouting and booing at them.

“The more you put them in that environment you hope they will be strong enough to overcome that obstacle. How they cope on a Saturday, you never know how they’ll do.

He added: “I have an idea and you can help them but inevitably it is down to them.”