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Sport

Gillingham manager Neil Harris looks ahead to their final game against Rotherham United

By: Luke Cawdell lcawdell@thekmgroup.co.uk

Published: 05:00, 29 April 2022

Gillingham’s final game on Saturday is going to be huge - but their opponents have something to play for too.

While the Gills need a positive result to stand a chance of staying in League 1, visitors Rotherham United could win promotion if things go their way.

Ryan Jackson had a mixed weekend against Portsmouth last time out Picture: KPI

With both ends of the table up in the air, it’s set to be a tense afternoon. Saturday's big game will be screened live on TV.

Gills boss Neil Harris has taken the Gills from 10 points adrift to having a chance of staying up on the final day.

But he knows the massive challenge ahead.

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He said: “We have seen the divide in the division this year between the top nine or 10 teams, and the rest of the league, it is a big challenge, they are an experienced team with a lot of Championship players, or very good League 1 players.

“They are a big physical and hard running side, that want to bulldoze you and can run past you. We have to stand up to the test, we have to physically stand up to it, we have to be prepared mentally for the fixture.

“Paul Warne (the Rotherham manager) has done a fantastic job over his tenure, five years at the club, he has done brilliant. We know the task infront of us but we are capable as we have shown time and again over weeks gone by that we can match anyone in the division and that is the challenge for us at the weekend, it is to match Rotherham and then go past them with the result we need to find safety for next year.”

The Millers have been issued an allocation of 2,850 tickets for the match at Priestfield as they look to seal automatic promotion.

Their midweek draw at Sunderland - letting slip a 1-0 lead after scoring an 88th minute own-goal - means they have more to do if that’s going to happen.

They currently sit second, two points behind leaders Wigan, but just a point infront of third placed MK Dons. Two go up automatically.

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Gillingham were grateful to Sheffield Wednesday as they beat Fleetwood, meaning they are still level on points with Harris’ men. Fleetwood play away to Bolton on Saturday.

There are numerous permutations of what could happen but the only thing for certain is that if the Gills lose (and assuming Fleetwood don’t also lose by a huge scoreline), then they’ll be playing League 2 football next season. A draw will give them hope, a win could well be enough as Morecambe aren’t yet safe either, sitting two points ahead of the Gills and up against play-off hopefuls Sunderland on the final day.

Gillingham won’t be favoured for a result but Harris isn’t concerned by that.

“I think the football club is at its best when we are the underdog,” he said. “It has been the case for many years now, something I certainly thrive off and have done so throughout my career and I have always enjoyed a challenge.

“I came to Gillingham to take on a huge challenge and I knew there would be bumps in the road along the way, I knew it was going to be a monumental task infront of me, but I came for that challenge and that is what I am asking from my players, we have stood firm for this long and have embraced the challenge and we have to embrace one more, we need to find one more performance individually and collectively and hope that carries us to safety.”

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