Gillingham will be looking to improve on Saturday’s draw with Rochdale when Crewe come to Priestfield tonight.

Steve Evans’ side owed a debt of gratitude to striker John Akinde who came off the bench and levelled in the 93rd minute of the League One clash at the weekend, scraping a point in the 2-2 draw having first had the lead.

New loan signing Robbie Cundy could be handed his first Gillingham start after joining until the end of the campaign from Bristol City.

That could see Jack Tucker drop to the bench as Evans looks to shut the back door and restrict shipping so many goals.

Going forward, Gillingham have looked sharper with the additions of Olly Lee and Callum Slattery, but defensively have looked like there is always a chance of letting goals in at the other end.

For manager Steve Evans, the Gills will need to be at their best to beat a well drilled Crewe side:

“We weren’t at our best against Rochdale and we accept that. A late goal is a good goal if it gets your something but it’s certainly two points dropped. We will take the point and look forward to Tuesday night.”

“We will get back on the training ground and work hard to prepare for Crewe.”

“The smart teams find a way to deal with Crewe. We need to come up with a game plan to deal with them on Tuesday. They are long unbeaten; a terrific side with brilliant individual players.

“I’ve watched them in closed-door games and pre-season as well. Me and Paul Raynor have studied a lot of footage before we went up there last time we played.

“David Artell is a good young manager; he has been brilliant at Crewe. They keep the ball and pass it well; we will work hard to stop that or it will be a long night for us.

“We have a lot of desire, a lot of commitment and a lot of passion, and a management team who want to fight. We want to represent this football club with the effort that the people of Medway deserve.

“We regroup and get ready for Crewe, if we can beat them it will set us up for two humdingers; Sunderland at the Stadium of Light and Lincoln on the television.”

Apart from the introduction of central defender Cundy, Evans may well keep faith with the side that started against Rochdale.

One person that is pushing for a starting berth though is Akinde and the striker admits the side are keen to get back to winning ways:

“We know we have to improve and we will do. We look forward to Tuesday night and getting a win, that’s the aim.”

“We didn’t lose against Rochdale so we have to take the positives.”

“I just want to do well, whether I am starting or coming off the bench. I want to score against every single team I play against.”

“I just try and get myself in the position to get the chances to score goals. That’s what I’ve done throughout my career and I will continue to do so.”

“We are aware of how Crewe play and their strengths and weaknesses. We are looking forward it.”

“When we played them earlier in the season they did have a lot of chances but we came away with the points. We want to do the same again.”

Picture supplied by Gillingham Football Club.