ANDY HESSENTHALER leads Gillingham into the Lions’ Den at Millwall on Boxing Day dreaming of an unprecedented fourth straight win in his still formative managerial career.

His mood these days contrasts starkly to that of two weeks ago when rumblings of discontent among some sections of support could be heard as the team laboured in search of the victory needed to break a seven-match winless sequence.

Maximum points at Bradford City and Sheffield Wednesday followed by Saturday’s emphatic 4-2 home success against Burnley have hoisted Gillingham out of the doldrums.

Those nine points not only put a spring back into the manager’s stride but also those of his players. Now he stands on the threshold of a new milestone in his short career on the day the club play their arch-rivals in what is expected to be a passion-filled derby.

“Winning four on the bounce is something I've not achieved since I became a manager,” said Hessenthaler. “I heard what some people were saying when we were having a lean spell and I was being asked pointed questions at press conferences. Now things are so different after three wins.

“The most important thing is that we stay focussed and take nothing for granted.”

Gillingham return to Priestfield on Saturday to try and complete a home and away win double against Wimbledon and are at home to Norwich on New Year's Day.