Manager Justin Edinburgh is ready for Gillingham’s next big test.

The Gills’ unbeaten start to their League 1 campaign came to an end on Saturday with a 2-1 defeat at Colchester.

Edinburgh and his young team will now have to get over their first real blow of the season.

“We don’t like the feeling but it was going to come, we weren’t going to stay unbeaten all season,” said Edinburgh.

“We competed, we weren’t overrun and we didn’t do ourselves any injustice or let ourselves down. We have been beaten. We have to move on and look forward to next week.

“We haven’t felt like this since the back end of last season. It is not a nice feeling, we don’t like it and we are not used to it.

“We have to deal with it, accept it, get back into training on Monday and get about our work.”

It was a first league defeat in eight games for the Gills who were replaced at the top of the table by Burton.

“The boys have been absolutely magnificent and it is a big test for us now,” added Edinburgh.

“It’s the next test and can we get back on the bike and get more points on the board?

“I have great belief that the players will do that.”