Gillingham captain Stuart O’Keefe believed that opponents enjoyed playing against them but it’s all changed now.

The Gills were 10 points adrift and spiralling towards League 2 before Neil Harris’ appointment gave them new belief. They head into the Easter weekend inside the relegation zone but only on goal difference.

Surviving relegation would be a some achievement, says the skipper, who made the trip to Cheltenham on Friday but missed out on playing because of injury.

“I think people liked playing us,” he said. “We were shipping goals for fun, we were pretty much an easy touch, we were a mess. I think to turn it around so quickly, with what is a relatively small squad, with the injuries we have had, it is a credit to everyone, credit to the club and the fans and the staff and especially the players, to dig ourselves out of it and get into this position.

“It has been a fantastic achievement but like the gaffer will keep reiterating, we haven’t done anything yet, there are still four massive games to play and plenty of points to play for, so we need to make sure we just keep approaching them like we have done.”

Gillingham start their Easter weekend at Cheltenham today (Friday) before hosting Fleetwood Town on Monday at Priestfield. Discounted tickets for that game are selling fast.

Keeping it tight at the back has given the Gills a platform to build from in their survival quest.

“That has been the biggest change,” O’Keefe said. “We were shipping too many goals, we weren’t scoring enough, the gaffer has changed that mentality, the difference now is that we are always going to be in a game.

"We are always in with a chance and I think that has been a slight change of mentality for other teams as well, they know that Gillingham will always be in the game, for us to be defensively strong is a great starting point, it only takes one or two goals and we can have three points. The gaffer has made a massive difference in that respect.

“We were too easy to beat. Now we have become more resilient, harder to beat, ultimately it gives us a starting point to get something out of games, hence why we have bridged the gap and got ourselves in this position.”

Gillingham may be in the bottom four but confidence in the camp is high, which will be a big help in these last four games.

“The situation is what it is and spirits are high,” O’Keefe said. “The boys are in a good place and that is fair enough. From being 10 points adrift when the manager came in to being in this position is fantastic, we know we haven’t achieved anything but the lads are looking froward to the challenge, looking forward to the weekend and looking forward to getting out of this.”

O’Keefe is contracted for another season at the Gills and is a firm favourite of the manager, who last weekend said that he had been one his best performers since taking charge. The midfielder certainly believes the club are in a good place now, whatever happens, saying: “I have really enjoyed (playing under the manager) and hopefully that has impacted my performances. He has been brilliant with me, as has Livers (the assistant manager). Since they have come in, they have been fantastic, open and honest, they have just let me get on with it, they have trusted my ability and let me captain the team.

“I have really enjoyed it; the manager has put his faith in me to give me the captaincy and I like to give my experience off the field and on it, it is a role I take responsibility in and pride and enjoy, it is a privileged position.

“I will be here next season, as it stands. It is a case of finishing the job now and having a talk in the summer, but first things first, we need to get this weekend out the way and see where we are at.

“I have had my ups and downs, I think I was one of (former manager) Steve Evans’ first signings and to last through it and still be here is quite an achievement! I have enjoyed my time at Gills, I have managed to play quite a lot of football and everyone at the club has been fantastic, I have enjoyed my time. Long may it continue.

“The manager has come in and changed it in such a short space of time and that is fantastic and what the club needed. Whatever league we are in the club is definitely in a better position with Neil Harris in charge than it was without.”

O’Keefe has been playing with a knock in recent games. An injection to reduce the inflammation didn’t work for the game at Sunderland but it got him through against Wycombe last Saturday. It’s meant less training for the midfielder as the club try to manage him through to the end of the season.

“I am alright,” he said. “That is just part of it, you get towards the end and everyone has taken a knock here and there and it is just about getting through and recovering right, getting through the game and getting points on the board somehow.

“These are the games you want to play in, you want to play in games that matter, big games with big stakes on it, this is certainly a weekend for that, to be part of it will be fantastic and these games I look forward to. I am sure every player is.”