Gillingham captain Kyle Dempsey knows their fans are owed a performance tonight in a home game against Accrington Stanley.

He described their first half display against Doncaster Rovers on Saturday as their worst yet this season, admitting their wasn’t enough fight among the players.

Manager Steve Evans questioned the efforts of some as the Gills were given the runaround against Doncaster. The second half improvement was more like it and Dempsey knows they have to deliver against Accrington.

He said: “We have to give 110% and show the fans what we are about, with real commitment and desire in the performance, get right on them and get the three points.

“For the fans’ sake we have to put things right on Tuesday, have a real go and show what we are about.

“The first half (against Doncaster) was the worst we have been all year. The desire and the commitment wasn’t there at all, we didn’t get any pressure on the ball and allowed them to play.

“Second half we showed real character and fight and had a right go, it was end to end football, and if we could have just started the first like the second then it would have been a lot better game to watch for the fans.

“We need to reflect on that first half as individuals and put things right next game. We weren’t at the races.”

The Gills went into the break thankful to only be goal down against Doncaster and Dempsey levelled the scores in the second half, only for the team to then concede a second less than two minutes later.

“Their second goal was a killer,” he said.

“At 1-1 you think, ‘let’s kick on and get a big result here’, especially off the back of the first half, but they counter attack and the goal was so sloppy.

“We will dust ourselves off and go again Tuesday and look to put things right like we normally do.”

Gillingham boss Steve Evans has talked about new recruits coming in when the transfer window opens in January and that nobody has a safe position in the team. Dempsey welcomes the added pressure to deliver.

“That has to keep players on their toes,” he said.

“Some players can get comfy, thinking their position is secure, but if he brings in defenders, midfielders, strikers, anybody that has been playing knows they have to perform to the best of their ability to keep their place. Adding more quality in different areas will make us stronger and a lot better team.”

Saturday’s performance will have been analysed and now put to the back of the players’ minds as they set about getting on track again.

“Negativity only leads to negativity, we have to stay positive and positive things happen,” said the skipper.

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