Ady Pennock is suffering after a torrid start to his Gillingham management career.

The Gills boss has yet to see his side win, after taking charge of their last seven games.

They were beaten by bottom club Coventry on Saturday and now sit just one point above the relegation zone.

A win can’t come soon enough and the Gills are back in action on Tuesday at home to AFC Wimbledon.

He said: “It hurts me terribly, it always does.

"The players have to step up. They should have done that at the start of the season, all the way through to now. They haven’t done that all season but have to do that now.

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“This is a relegation battle, it is what it is, the table doesn’t lie.

We have to lick our wounds and hopefully move on, play like we did second half and we will be OK but they are just words, they have to do it on the pitch.

“I hope (a win comes soon), that is what we are wishing for and praying for but we have to turn up. We can’t give them another two-goal lead and try and claw things back.

“We had to score three goals again (on Saturday) to win a game of football and it’s just not good enough.”

While it’s hurting the manager, the fans are feeling the pain, too.

Many of the travelling fans on Saturday made their displeasure known from the stands.

Pennock said: “They will always back us to the very end but they have to have something to shout about.

“You can’t be 2-0 down at half-time and expect a round of applause. The players have to do it on the pitch.”