GILLINGHAM play their fourth match in 11 days at home to third placed Wigan tomorrow night looking to end a goal drought which threatens to undermine attempts to claw their way out of a relegation dogfight (Tony Hudd writes).

Nicky Southall's two penalty blunders in Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Crystal Palace left the club without a goal since the home win over Bradford City on January 31 and condemned them to a 15th league defeat.

Saturday's reverse leaves Gillingham three points above the relegation zone, raising genuine concerns over the club's ability to stay in the Nationwide League, Division 1.

Next Saturday, they meet Nottingham Forest for the second time in 11 days in a match they dare not lose.

Player-manager Andy Hessenthaler refused to use the dreaded R word after Saturday's setback at Selhurst Park but sprung to the defence of striker Patrick Agyemang who has come under fire from fans.

Asked about the lack of potency up front, despite the presence of Mamady Sidibe and Agyemang, Hessenthaler admitted: "Yes, I am a little bit surprised but Patrick is new to the club and Rod Wallace is just coming back after a long spell out injured.

"It's just a matter of getting the right combination, and I may have to look at that. But we had enough of the ball in the second half and should have done a lot better."

Asked why Agyemang drifted out wide to the left, the Gills boss explained: "He wanted to get a bit more space because he felt he could get into the game more.

"We need him to do more of that but we just didn't have that cutting edge. The problem was that we didn't work their keeper enough when they went down to 10-men.

"We've come up against an in-form side, who scored six in their last home game, and given a good account of ourselves. But we're not taking our chances and it doesn't look as though we're going to score enough goals.

"Defensively we were very good, apart from one lapse - and they scored from that.

"With 10 senior players out at the moment it doesn't make things any easier so we're relying on kids. With 15 games to go we need everyone to dig in."

Hessenthaler insisted that Southall wanted to take both penalties, even though he appeared nervous.

"Missing one is bad enough, missing the second was a big kick in the teeth. These penalty misses are costing us dearly at the moment.

"If we had scored then maybe the game would have been different. But Nicky wanted the job of penalty taker even after making a mess of the first one.

"Paul Smith asked him if wanted the take the second and he said he did. My attitude is that whoever picks up the ball and wants to take a penalty can, though Nicky will not be taking any more."

Hessenthaler, who expects to sign a new three year deal soon, will make up his mind at the season's end whether to play on beyond his 39th birthday in June.