GILLINGHAM player-manager Andy Hessenthaler has called on his squad to make Priestfield a fortress in their bid to avoid relegation.

After a week that has seen the Gills lose at Sunderland and West Ham, the club have dropped to 21st place - just one spot above the relegation zone.

And the club’s chances of staying up were dealt a further blow on Saturday when fellow strugglers Burnley, Nottingham Forest and Rotherham all won and Walsall got a point against in-form Millwall.

But Gillingham play Cardiff, Wigan, Walsall and Ipswich at Priestfield within a 14-day period in April and Hessenthaler is backing his squad to do the business in those four games.

After Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Upton Park he said: “Results in games elsewhere haven’t been kind to us and our position doesn’t look good.

“But it’s been a tough week for us having to travel to Sunderland and West Ham - two teams at the top end of the table.

“We have our next two games and four of our next five at Priestfield and those fixtures will be crucial if we are going to stay in the division.

“If the players work as hard as they did against West Ham and Sunderland in those games then I’m confident we can pick up the points we need.

“Everyone worked their socks off and that’s a good sign at this stage of the season.

“I was pleased with the way Richard Rose and Leon Johnson performed and Chris Hope did well, too.”

West Ham manager Alan Pardew echoed Hessenthaler’s belief that Gillingham are too good to go down.

He said: “Gillingham are having a tough season but they are a great club. I just know they are going to get out of trouble and survive in this division.

“They worked hard and made it difficult and they’ve got enough talent up front to embarrass any defender, especially with Patrick Agyemang in the side.”

Gills could be without Barry Ashby for the Cardiff game on Saturday, where the Gills will be looking to avenge a 5-0 defeat in Wales earlier this season.

Ashby picked up an injury in training last week, although his loss is offset by the return of Chris Hope - who played his first game since mid-February on Saturday.

Mamady Sidibe (hip) is also a doubt for the Cardiff clash, though Danny Spiller should be fine despite requiring stitches in his mouth after taking a kick to the head at Upton Park.