MARK STIMSON dragged his players in for a dressing down on Sunday and told them there'll be no more days off.

The Gillingham manager was left embarrassed by the club's 4-0 reverse at Northampton and has warned his players to expect a tough ride until results, performances and the club's league position improve.

Saturday's defeat did nothing to help Gillingham's fight against relegation. They remain in the bottom four and even further entrenched in a relegation scrap.

"The boys came in on Sunday morning and I want to make sure it hurts them as much as it hurts me and Scott (Barrett)," said Stimson.

"There are no days off now. It's time to understand what position we're in and that performance should kick in. No disrespect to Northampton, they played well, but we shouldn't be going to places like that and getting beat 4-0.

"I'm disappointed and gutted because I don't expect my teams to play like that and get rolled over so easily.

"It's different if you play against a good side and you hold your hands up and say they were good. That wasn't the case against Northampton.

"I've asked the players to be prepared for a rocky ride because that's what it's going to be."