Gareth Seddon believes now is the time for him and his team-mates to ‘stand up and be counted’.

In-form frontman Seddon has scored three times in four games, but the 33-year-old would happily swap his goals for a priceless three points.

“I don’t mind if I go 10 games without scoring as long as we are winning, I just want to make a significant contribution,” he said.

Boos rang out following the FA Trophy loss to Barrow AFC and Seddon, who had given the Blues an early lead, feels the fans had every right to be seething.

“You cannot play like we did and expect to win,” he said.

“For our fans to turn up and watch us play like that then no wonder we got booed off.”

Ninth-placed Braintree Town – who smashed the nine-men Blues 3-0 last time the sides met – visit the Swansway Chester Stadium on Saturday (3pm).

Seddon said the time for excuses had passed and the onus was on the players to produce the goods on the pitch - or risk being moved on.

“It’s difficult for the gaffer because he picks his best team but it’s us who are on the pitch,” he said.

“As soon as we drop our attitude or effort then we get turned over. We cannot play well one week and then turn up and play rubbish the next.

“We have lads who can play a lot better and that is what is frustrating for us and the gaffer. The senior players need to give them a rollicking and lead by example and that is what me, Paul Linwood and Danny Higginbotham are trying to do.

“We need everyone to stand up and be counted. If we lose but every single player has given everything then I think the fans can accept that.

“I think that if someone doesn’t want to do that then they can go. You are playing for Chester and it’s your shirt so you should do everything you can to keep it.”

Seddon has been pleased with his own performances this season and has vowed to continue working as hard as possible to get the Blues out of trouble.

“I have hit a bit of form with the goals and I think people are noticing the hard work,” he said.

“It can be hard playing up front on your own but I am used to it. I don’t set targets because sometimes my job is basically getting battered for other players to break through.

“We need to start moving out of the bottom four because none of us want a relegation on our CV, especially when you see where the club has come from.”

Long-term casualties Nathan Turner, Ross Killock and Danny Harrison – who is unlikely to return before April – will all miss the visit of Braintree, but Craig Lindfield should be fit to return.

Loan duo Conor Wilkinson and Chris Lester have returned to Bolton Wanderers but John Rooney and George Miller are both expected to start again.

Rooney scored twice in a 5-3 win over Gap Connah’s Quay in a behind-closed-doors game on Tuesday night, with Miller also on target.

Teenage striker Sean Miller struck twice and George Horan completed the scoring.