Mark Stimson will tell strikers Gary Mulligan and Andy Barcham to forget superstition and start practising shooting before games.

Neither player believes in shooting practice during the warm-up and, with just three goals between them this season and another blank on Tuesday night, the Gillingham boss is demanding a change in approach.

Stimson said: “Football for me is all about good habits. If you’re a centre forward, before a game you should shoot at goal. Gary Mulligan and Andy Barcham don’t as it’s their superstition.

“I’ve said to them before it’s not working – hit the back of the net, it’s the best feeling in the world.

“A goalkeeper comes out before the game and does kicking and saves, defenders do heading, strikers should be shooting.

“I’ll have another conversation with them and I’ll ask them, go on, have a few shots, because when you get that buzz of hitting the back of the net and you know how many people you have brought with you – whether it’s 200-300 or even 10 – they are going to be cheering your name.

“I’ve not come across it very often. The strikers I’ve been working with they can’t wait to do shooting, they drive me mad like (Simeon) Jackson.

“Every training session, after training, he is doing shooting. Those two guys for some unknown reason don’t do it.

“I’ll like to tell them this is the thing for you. I don’t physically make them do it but I think on Saturday I will.

“If you look at Gary’s stats and for someone of his ability, who can score, he should be getting more.”

Hear Mark Stimson talking to our Gills reporter Luke Cawdell about the importance of shooting practice for Gary Mulligan and Andy Barcham by clicking the link at the top of this page