By Luke Cawdell

Gillingham boss Andy Hessenthaler is focusing on clinching a League 2 play-off spot after his side’s hopes of automatic promotion dissolved on Saturday.

Hessenthaler saw his team lose 4-2 at home to Barnet and drop down to eighth. They face a battle to extend their season in the play-offs for a chance to regain a place in League 1.

Hessenthaler, pictured, said: "We always had an opening. If we won we could have sneaked (third place). We now have to try and concentrate on getting into the play-offs. It is very quick how things can change.

"The result (against Barnet) has changed things for us and we’ve put a bit of pressure on ourselves to finish in the play-offs.

"It’s up to us as a group to bounce back and show the character that we know we have in the dressing room to do that."

Hessenthaler’s side put together a run of 16 games unbeaten before Saturday and the Gills boss is hoping all of that good work does not unravel now.

"The players know that it could fizzle out after a poor start and really turning things around," added Hessenthaler.

"We don’t want it to fizzle out. We want it to carry on and if it means a couple of extra weeks of the season then great, that’s what we want.

"We started the season trying to get promoted and we still have a massive chance.

"On Saturday it didn’t look like we really wanted to be in there. You can’t talk about nerves because we have enough players out there with experience. I am just disappointed with the goals we’ve given away, they were avoidable."

Are Gills good enough to claim a League 2 play-off place? Have your say in the comments section below.