By Luke Cawdell

Martin Allen endured a miserable afternoon the last time Gillingham were knocked off top spot and he doesn’t want a repeat.

The Gills manager was a spectator in the stands over Christmas as Port Vale won 3-2 at Dagenham to briefly take over at the top of League 2.

Allen’s men weren’t in action that day but wins at Southend and Bristol Rovers have since restored the Gills back to first place.

Just two points separate challengers Port Vale and leaders Gillingham ahead of this weekend’s top-of-the-table clash between the two clubs at Priestfield.

Allen (pictured) said: "Come 4.50pm on Saturday afternoon, we want all our Gillingham fans toward the end of that game to be proudly singing that ‘we are top of the league’.

"For 70 minutes at Dagenham I sat in the stand doing my scouting report on Port Vale and for 70 minutes I heard Port Vale supporters singing ‘we are top of the league’ as they went past us that day. I have to say, it hurt.

He added: "We had been knocked off the top for the first time in the whole season and the response since then from our players has been magnificent.

"We must maintain those standards now and make sure we never, ever, lose our place at the top right through to the end of the season."

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