GILLINGHAM boss Andy Hessenthaler, who branded some fans as "pathetic" after they booed his substitutions during the defeat against Derby last weekend, has urged supporters to get behind his team at Crewe on Saturday.

Hessenthaler reaffirmed that his comments were only aimed at a small section of fans and said his team needed the fans on their side, not on their backs.

He said: "When you walk off the pitch you don’t need to be abused by certain fans. I can’t repeat the words they used. It was personal and not very nice.

"You always say things afterwards. It was directed at a small minority of fans. It was not directed at the proper fans, as I call them.

"You sometimes say things you regret but I don’t regret this. I just regret the real fans felt that it was directed towards them but it wasn’t. I’ve always said that our fans are out of this world but I have said that it is a small band of supporters who are getting on our backs."

He added: "My main concern is how it effects the younger players. Every time they give the ball away they’re getting booed.

"That could effect their confidence. Nyron (Nosworthy) had it a few years ago. He got booed a lot and I had to take him out of the team and then bring him in again. He was better for that.

"It’s not nice for the likes of Matt Jarvis and Andrew Crofts and people like that because they’re just young kids. It’s not nice for the experienced players but they can handle it a bit better.

"I know the fans who travel to Crewe will get behind us. If they’re not happy at me, they can have a go at me. Don’t have a go at the team. We don’t need that. We’ve just got to get on, be positive and you’ll see our real fans up there on Saturday. They travel all over the country.

"We know what we’ve got to do. We have got to stay in this division, and we’ll do that. I’m confident we’ll do that."

Striker Darren Byfield may be in the squad to face Crewe but he is still suffering from a badly gashed knee. It was sustained last month when he crashed into an advertisement hoarding in the tussle against West Ham.

Barry Ashby and Alan Pouton are doubtful and probably won’t be risked, but Leon Johnson will come into the reckoning.

Ian Cox and Mamady Sidibe may not travel to Crewe as both have been away on international duty, with Trinidad and Mali respectively, but it depends on when they arrive back in the UK.

Meanwhile, Tommy Johnson, another player vying for a starting place on Saturday, told KM-fm he has overcome his injury nightmare...