Steve Phillips: Crewe Alexandra must stand up and be counted

Crewe Alexandra keeper Steve Phillips says it is time for his team to stand up and be counted following their poor start to the season.

Saturday's 3-0 home defeat against Walsall sent the Alex to within a point of the relegation zone.

"We'll see who comes to the top and see who sinks. I certainly won't sink," Phillips told BBC Radio Stoke.

"I'm a fighter and I'm hoping there's a few behind me who are with us. If you don't you're going to get relegated."

Against a Walsall side that had not won in more than a month, Saturday's game at Gresty Road looked destined for a draw until Crewe were stunned by three goals in the final 24 minutes.

"To go down with a whimper like we did was nothing short of scandalous," said Phillips

"You need fighters in your team. That was by no means good enough."

The loss followed the 5-0 hammering at Swindon a fortnight ago, after which boss Steve Davis publicly outlined his concerns over 'disruptive' elements within the dressing room.

Phillips added: "We did a bit of digging out before the Peterborough game. We said we need a team of winners not losers.

"But, unfortunately, almost straightaway, it's crept back in. We need another row like we did before the Peterborough game.

"There's a bit of soul searching to do. There's a weak streak somewhere. This needs sorting quickly."

Plagued by problems on and off the pitch, Davis' side have take only one point from their last four league matches.

Davis said: "Things aren't always going to go smoothly.

"We've had a very long honeymoon period. Now's the time when we've just got to dig deeper and work harder."