Manager Martin Allen is looking forward to seeing how his table-topping Gillingham side cope with defeat.

A 2-1 home loss to Rochdale on Saturday ended the Gills' eight-game unbeaten start to the season which had seen them pull six points clear at the top.

But that gap has now been reduced to three points ahead of Tuesday night's away trip to Northampton.

He said: "It is a test of all of us. A test of me, the staff, players and the supporters - all of us. This thing is just going to get bigger and better.

"It's going to keep going and along this 10-month competition, there are going to be setbacks.

"It is how you deal with the setbacks and how you deal with adversity. We have a big squad and a good squad and on Tuesday perhaps you might see something different.

"The players have done great, fantastic and will bounce back."