By Luke Cawdell

Gillingham manager Mark Stimson is preparing his players for a tough battle with promotion-chasing Colchester on Saturday.

The U’s head to Priestfield smarting from two heavy defeats while Gills’ players will have their own demons to answer after Tuesday’s FA Cup shocker at Accrington.

Stimson said: "We’ve got to take that defeat on the chin and the one thing Saturday will be is all hell for leather.

"Colchester aren’t going to come and start passing the ball around. They’re going to ask our defenders big questions and ask our goalkeeper if he’s brave enough to come out and get involved.

"The way their manager sets up his team is direct and successful. We have to be ready for that and it’s a game that the players have to be on their toes for from the start."

The Gills haven’t played at home since Boxing Day, when they lost for only the second time in League 1 at Priestfield, with a 1-0 defeat against Brentford.

They could be without midfielder Curtis Weston, pictured above, as he picked up a hip injury against Accrington, while winger Andy Barcham may also be restricted to the bench after returning from a knee injury.

Garry Richards and Simon Royce are both back in training but the Colchester game could come too soon for the pair.