Gillingham had the worst home record in their division last season but start afresh on Saturday when Rochdale visit Priestfield.

With just four home wins and 13 league goals scored over 23 games at ME7 last term it was hard going for supporters, but the club say season-ticket sales have improved this summer as manager Neil Harris sets about turning their fortunes around.

Harris is looking forward to being back at home and hopes the unity developed with the fans last season can continue.

He said: “You always want to win your home games. You want to go as long as you can unbeaten during spells at home, you want your fans to come and enjoy watching their team.

“Certainly making it a positive environment is a key one for me. We had it last year after taking over, even to the last game of the season, it was a cracking atmosphere.

“We had a group of fans coming to watch their team led by a manager who they knew cared about the club and, win, lose or draw, we would have a go in the right manner and it will be the same this year.

“We can’t make any promises that we will win every home game but they will see a team who tries to get a balance between moving the ball at the right time and passing the ball and also having the capabilities of being aggressive and playing forward at the right times.

“Every game lends a challenge at home and we have to make sure we have that unison between the terraces and the pitch and that we are together as one football club to help us get over the line.

“The frustration from last weekend is that it was a game we didn’t want to lose. We wanted to build a bit of momentum from the start to the first home game but I am already excited about the game, looking forward to being back at Priestfield.

“Season tickets have been surprising for me, they really have, I shouldn’t be surprised because I played here a while ago and fans support their team and players.

“I know they will be looking forward to the game, we just need to make sure we start the game in the right manner and build as many positive results as we can do at home.”

While the Gills lost 2-0 to AFC Wimbledon last Saturday, visitors Rochdale also suffered a narrow defeat, beaten 2-1 at home by Crewe Alexandra.

Harris said: “We quickly got over the disappointment of the result on Saturday after the opening game. So many aspects of our play was positive, the first goal was vital against a very deep-lying Wimbledon side, they are difficult to break down at times, there was nothing in the game.

“It should have been a 0-0. Once we got over the disappointment of that, the early part of the week was about reviewing the game, showing the players where we can improve, reminding ourselves and the group that we had nine debuts on Saturday in Gillingham shirts and we are going to get things slightly wrong.

“We have to make sure we quickly get them right and keep improving because the league is not going to stand still and wait for us to blend.”

Stuart O’Keefe remains a doubt for the weekend while Dominic Jefferies will be hoping to get involved after leaving the field at half-time on Saturday with a knock.

Harris was expecting Lewis Walker’s international clearance to have gone through in time to be involved.