Gills players in a pre-match huddle at Rochdale Picture: Barry Goodwin

by Luke Cawdell

Gillingham midfielder Stuart Lewis knows the League 2 semi-final play-off tie against Rochdale is still on a knife edge and he won’t be taking Sunday’s second-leg for granted.

After securing a 0-0 draw in the away leg on Thursdy night, the Gills will be going into Sunday’s game as favourites but Lewis knows it’s not that simple.

He said: "We’re pleased with the result but it’s still in the balance. Anything can happen. We’ve done well to keep a clean sheet and get a positive result and we just need to attack on Sunday and play the same as we did on Thursday night.

“Everyone worked 110 per cent and it was a tough game. We knew it was always going to be that way as they are a hard team to play against.

“We came away quite pleased with the result and we’re just looking forward to Sunday now.

“It’s still half-time in the game and we can’t take anything for granted and with the players we’ve got that’s never going to happen.”

A win for Gillingham on Sunday and they are heading for Wembley but Lewis said: “You can’t think of it yet. You just have to worry about Sunday and Wembley can’t enter our mind at the minute.”

Gillingham had limited chances on Thursday at Rochdale and Lewis came the closest, with a long-range effort that home keeper Frank Fielding did well to save.

Lewis has yet to score for the Gills. He struck the post at Priestfield recently and with his parents in the crowd at Rochdale, it would have been a timely strike.

He added: “My mum and dad and a few relatives were at Priestfield when I hit the post and I got their heart-rates going there and I think I did the same again at Rochdale.

“It sat up nice for me and I was running off again to celebrate!

“I’m just praying for that first one to go in, even if it goes in off my knee, I don’t care really.”

Hear more from Stuart Lewis below as he reflects on the first leg and looks ahead to Sunday: