Gillingham boss Neil Harris watched his team rattle promotion-chasing Wycombe on Saturday and has called on his men to show that bravery more often.

A disappointing first half was in stark contrast to a much-improved second for the Gills as they took the game to Wycombe, levelling the match and pushing for a winner against the play-off challengers. It ended 1-1 at Priestfield.

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Ahead of a big Easter weekend, Harris wants that same attitude from his players.

He said: “I spoke about bravery before the game (against Wycombe) to the group, I didn’t see it first half, second I did. The change of shape definitely helped us (reverting from 3-5-2 to 4-4-2) against Wycombe’s high press and aggressive nature to the game. I saw bravery, I saw midfield players putting the foot on the ball, I saw Ben Reeves getting on the ball, Charlie Kelman getting the ball in the right spaces and Vadaine Oliver taking care of the ball upfront for us to build.

“I saw the centre-halves playing it out from the back, this is the way we should be playing, it is not always possible, there of course is a fear to the way we are playing for all of us, because they care, they are honest lads, they want to do well for the football club, they are disappointed with where we are, they don’t want to be here, but sometimes you have to realise they have not got a manager who will rant and rave at them for giving the ball away at times, bravery is key to our success in the next four games.

“I said to my players 'I need more from you as a group', that is the first time I have said it to my players, I need more from them, I need more bravery. I praise and praise them as a group because they are a joy to work with but sometimes I need that more bravery, I said that to the players, now moving forward I need more quality.”

Harris put defensive resolve at the forefront of his team’s approach when he first arrived, in the wake of a 7-2 disaster against Oxford United. Since then they have picked up six clean sheets from 14 games.

Going forward, creating and scoring, is something Harris believes his men can improve on by being that much more braver on the ball. They should take plenty of confidence from their last outing.

He said: “You are as good as your last game and your last performance and I will take that second half as being up there with one of the best halves of football since I have been here. I don’t really remember (goalkeeper) Aaron Chapman making a save second half, a couple of long throws at the end but that was it. Now what has gone has gone, we are now fully focused on what is coming up.”

The Gills travel to mid-table Cheltenham on Friday before returning to Priestfield on Monday to face Fleetwood Town, a side level on points with them as the pair battle to avoid the drop.

“Easter can make or break seasons,” said Harris. “It is an important period, it is an important game, it’s the next one for us, one-game mentality is what we have focused on since I have been here, that doesn’t change, but what we can’t get away from is that we have got two big games in four days, two games where I expect us to compete, with physicality but also quality as well, and we need to pick points up if we want to stay in this division.”