Gillingham captain Max Ehmer knows the team can’t get caught up in any negativity.

Conceding eight goals in their last two matches has led to plenty of criticism for the Gills.
The side are now just four points above the relegation zone in League 1.

Ehmer said: “It is not nice as players and we all had a chat after the game on Saturday (Gills lost 4-1 to Rochdale) and again on Monday. Everyone is saying we just have to remain positive.

“It is not like we are in the relegation zone, we need something like two wins from seven and are more than capable of getting that, starting on Saturday.

“Peterborough (Saturday’s visitors) will probably come and try and play but the pitch isn’t the best to try and play on. We have to be at it and in their faces."

Ehmer, 25, is rightly focusing ahead, rather than dwelling on those poor recent performances, but isn’t hiding from the fact that Gills haven’t been good enough.

He said: “You defend as a team but as a defender you get judged on clean sheets and it hasn’t been good enough. It hurts 100%.

“I am a bad loser, it’s embarrassing and it’s not nice to have conceded eight goals in our last two games.

“It doesn’t matter who you are playing against but we can only look forward now. We have to remain positive and hopefully we will get three points from the next game.”

Ehmer is the only constant from a defence that has been riddled with injuries this season.

He started alongside Deji Oshilaja, but has also partnered Josh Pask, Baily Cargill, Chris Herd, Zesh Rehman and, most recently, Mitchell Dickenson.

He said: “When Deji and I played together I knew his strengths and weaknesses and then when Herd comes in I had to learn his.

“It is difficult. Zesh came in and he was new and I hadn’t played with him. You have to adapt quickly. Everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses.

“I can’t remember the last time I played with a settled back four, or three, but that is football.”

Read the full story in this week's Medway Messenger.