Garry Richards was back in action at the weekend Picture: Barry Goodwin

by Luke Cawdell

Garry Richards insists the confidence in the Gillingham squad remains upbeat despite a worrying dip in form.

The Gills needed a penalty to avoid a third successive defeat on Saturday but Richards is sure that results will turn around soon.

Richards said: "There are always going to be blips. It is about how quickly you get out of those blips, get back to winning ways and keep your confidence up.

"You need to keep doing the right things and it will come good in the end. You can’t read too much into the form after seven games.

"We are still confident in the dressing room and there is not a lot of negativity in there at all.

"You come off the pitch always wanting to win but you wake up after dwelling on it during the night, wondering what you could have done better and where we could have been better as a team.

"But then that’s gone again and we have Southend on Tuesday now which we are thinking about."

Richards spent six months at Southend in the 2007/08 season. He was recalled to the Gills team for the first time this season on Saturday as replacement for crocked skipper Andy Frampton.

"It is always nice to be back out there," said the 25-year-old. "You train all week and I have been chomping at the bit like everyone else who has not been in the side.

"You have to bide your time and football can change so quickly. It always does. You have to be patient and you can never be bitter about these things, you just have to wait your turn.

"Fingers crossed for Tuesday, it would be nice to go back to Southend and be starting.

"But that is up to the manager and what he does is up to him. I am always ready.

"It is such early days in the season you can’t put too much pressure on yourself just yet. You have always got to take the positives."