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Neil Harris has described Gillingham’s midweek home match against fellow strugglers AFC Wimbledon as a relegation six-pointer - but says it won’t define their season.
It’s a game many will look at as being must-win with the Gills five points behind Mark Robinson’s side who are badly out of form, having not won in their last 13 league fixtures - with 13 League 1 fixtures to play.
Harris admitted: “It’s a vital game because the league table doesn’t lie.
“It’s the proverbial six-pointer, let’s be honest, I’m not going to sugar-coat that, because we don’t want to lose more ground on the teams just above us.
“It’s not gonna make-or-break our season, but we are getting to the stage where every point is vital - and we have got the opportunity to make ground on a team above us.
“On the back of losing a game (2-0 to Plymouth on Saturday), I can already look forward to Tuesday night.”
The Gills will hope midfielder Ben Reeves came through their weekend match against Plymouth unscathed, having come off the bench as he returned from an ankle injury.
But they are still making do without winger Mustapha Carayol, as well as forwards Danny Lloyd and Alex MacDonald who are out injured for the remainder of this season, although Harris said he would consider making changes - whether that’s in personnel or formation - ultisiting the options he does have left at his disposal.
Harris says pointing towards their absences as a major issue for his team was not an excuse, adding: “I think it’s fact.
“We know we have got Mustapha who is not quite ready. Ben got 20-odd minutes which was probably the biggest plus of the day. Mustapha is missing - he’s getting closer - but he’s missing.
“Danny Lloyd was certainly the best player in my first game-and-a-half when I took over. But he is missing and Alex MacDonald as well, so we’ve lost width and real quality.
“It’s just fact (that their respective absences are hurting Gills) but we have to find other ways, as I’ve said, and it’s my job to find other ways.
“On Saturday, I thought we were light up front. I thought V (Vadaine Oliver) battled hard up front and Tom (Dickson-Peters) had a go, but we were missing that experience and quality up there.
“Like I said, I’ve got to find ways to win games and I’ve got to be creative at times.”
Gillingham’s defeat to Plymouth came after Harris’ first first full week working with the players without a midweek game getting in their way.
But he added: “I think, when we got a bit excited that I got a week to work with the players, I wasn’t expecting to see Real Madrid - let’s not get carried away!
“We’ve had a week to recuperate more than anything else and prepare. We have got what we have got until the end of the season.
“Because I’m calm, at the moment, don’t be fooled. I’m hurting inside.
“I’m angry - there was no lack of effort from the players, but there was a lack of quality on the ball.”
