Manager Mark Bonner admits his Gillingham side need to be a high-scoring team if they are to reach their goals.

The Gills have spread the goals around in the first week of the season with six different scorers in their first three games.

While the Gills boss is not bemoaning that, he knows that at least one of the many strikers at his disposal will almost certainly need to hit the magical 20-goal mark if they are to earn promotion.

“We’ll take a couple racing away and going to be the top boys, we’ll need that, but I think you need contributions from everywhere, subs, starters, all different positions so hopefully we see more of that,” explained Bonner.

“In the next couple of months, we’ll see one or two establish themselves as the main ones in front of goal.

“We talk about being a team that can win in lots of different ways, whether that’s set plays or counter attacks or an individual moment, then we have to have lots of players who contribute. Six goals, six different scorers is great but in the end, it doesn’t matter who gets them, as long as we keep getting them ourselves.

“You need to score 70 goals to be a top team so it’s really hard to share 70 without someone or a couple of players taking 15, 20, 25 or 30 goals so that’s the aim.

“The obvious ones for that are the ones at the top end so they’ll be doing everything they can to add to that.

“We need to be a high-scoring team to have the season we want. Lots of them have done it before so we can’t wait to get them all on the pitch.”

It’s been a positive start to the season, no doubt raising already high expectations among Gillingham’s fanbase.

Bonner can’t question their loyalty to the club but now he wants them to ensure the supporters fall in love with his team.

“It gives you a little bounce in your step when you get good results,” added Bonner.

“When you win late having gone through some of the challenges from last week that can be good for your team. It was a big week for us last week and to come out of it with a quality result is a big moment for us so far.

“We have to keep trying to do it, we’ve still got some key players missing but it gives others a chance. The confidence of the team overall and the squad just grows when you know you can still get results.

“Your connection and spirit with the fans grows when they start falling in love with the team.

“I think supporters by nature are always in love with the club but they’re not necessarily in love with the team. We have to make sure they fall in love with this team.”