Justin Edinburgh is demanding more from his high-flying Gills.

The Gillingham boss has led his team to the top of League 1 but knows performance levels must improve.

Edinburgh’s men beat Scunthorpe with a stoppage-time winner in the week but were a long way from their best.

Ahead of a home game against Southend on Saturday, Edinburgh said: “I said to them after Tuesday’s game that we have to raise the level of performance.

“We are at the top and people want to come and beat us and we have to deal with that expectation.

“We are not just quite getting there. We have to embrace the position we are in and take the levels of performance up. Whether we can do that who knows but it certainly won’t be for the lack of trying.

“We have a young group, we are learning a lot about ourselves and will continue to do so, a lot quicker than we thought.”

Gillingham are five unbeaten in the league with wins from their last three. Victory over Scunthorpe maintained their two-point lead at the top of League 1.

It’s a position Edinburgh admits is way above anyone’s expectations. “We are massively overachieving. There is no doubt about that,” said the manager.

“We are not financially big hitters in the league but that doesn’t say we can’t develop and progress and fight to stay at the top.”