CREWE Alexandra boss Steve Davis says a two-week break from matches should give his players some much-needed “brain rest”.

After exiting the FA Cup at the First Round stage against Cheltenham, The Alex have no game this weekend as the majority of League One and Two sides are in Second Round action.

Davis thinks the break has come at the right time after watching his side collapse to a 4-0 defeat at Colchester United on Saturday.

Kurtis Guthrie’s goal ensured the hosts led at the break before strikes in the final 20 minutes from Owen Garvan, Drey Wright and Brennan Dickenson ensured a chastening afternoon in Essex for The Alex.

“It was a bad day for us at Colchester. We’re very disappointed with the outcome and we must do better,” Davis told crewealex.net.

“Some of the players definitely need a bit of a brain rest, rather than a physical rest.

“It’s important that you prepare the players the best way you can in terms of the balance of rest and work on the training field to be ready for the next game - so that’s what we’re doing.

“We’re in until Thursday this week, the lads will then have a few days off before we resume on Monday and then build up a normal week for the Saturday game.

“They now have the opportunity for some down time and then we’ll get them mentally focussed again in the build up to the Crawley game.”

Following the result at the Community Stadium, Crewe dropped to 10th in the League Two table but are still only one point behind Blackpool, who occupy the final play-off place.

Their next league test comes on Saturday, December 10, when they welcome Crawley Town to Gresty Road and they could receive a triple squad boost before the game.

George Ray, Billy Bingham and Zoumana Bakayogo have been missing through various injuries in recent weeks, but Davis says all three are “not far off” and could return in the next game.

“Of course that physical rest will help too,” he said.

“It gives us a chance to get three of the lads back fit, which we should have available in a couple of weeks’ time.

“They’re all at the back end of their rehabilitation now. All three of them are not far off to be fair and they’ll all join in this week.

“That strengthens the squad of course and gives me more options.

“It will be good to get them training again, some quality time back out on the training field with no game at the weekend.

“We’ll make sure they’re right and make them get a full week training next week before the Crawley game.

“If we can be in that situation over the next two weeks where everybody is available, then it gives us more to pick from.”