CAPTAIN Danny Jackman has called on Worcester City’s experienced players to “stand up and be counted”.

Bottom club City face 16th-placed Gainsborough Trinity at the Victoria Ground on Saturday (3pm) in a match considered to be a must-win for the home side.

Having lost five out of their first seven games, Jackman says City’s youngsters have received a “harsh” lesson in Vanarama National League North.

But the 33-year-old admits the club’s more established players, including himself, have also got to learn from their mistakes to end their wretched run.

“When we concede, you can see our confidence wilt a little bit and that’s what you get when you have got youngsters,” said Jackman, whose side have suffered back-to-back 1-0 losses to Chorley and Stockport County.

“But, as senior boys, we need to do a bit better and keep going as we are making mistakes as well.

“We have got to step up a bit more and try to encourage them through games.

“We have all got to stand up and be counted now, work together and be a bit more professional out there.”

Jackman says he has seen “glimpses” of what Worcester are capable of but insists they need to be more consistent.

“Doing well for 20 minutes here and there isn’t going to win you many games,” he said.

“You can play well in spells but you can then come off losing and that’s where we need to be a little bit more ruthless.

“So if that means sticking out for a 0-0 and then hopefully nicking something, then that’s what we have got to do.

“We have got to be more solid as a unit.”

Despite figuring heavily last season and captaining the club, Jackman did not feature in City’s first four games.

But the former Gillingham and Northampton Town midfielder has defended manager Carl Heeley’s decision to leave him out.

“Sometimes you have got to bide your time as the manager picks his team and we all stick behind whoever is playing,” he said.

“It may have been tactical and it can come down to the team shape and the personnel.

“But I will always be supportive of the manager and the staff as they are ultimately only trying to win football games.

“We are all supportive and all want to try to do well but it is frustrating when you are not winning and you are not playing.

“We will get it right and I am pleased to be back in the team now.

“I am still trying to get myself fit as I did not have a lot of games in pre-season, so I need to keep working hard and hopefully we will get this run overturned.”