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Gillingham’s next four games are going to be crucial.
The Gills head into their weekend fixture against MK Dons just six points adrift of the play-off places.
Three of their next four games, between now and the New Year’s Day visit of Portsmouth, are at home.
Boss Steve Evans said: “It is a key period over Christmas, with so many games, we could be in the bottom six, we could be in the top six. I think there are a lot of teams like that.
“If you look at the teams we are playing it is really tough. People will say we should beat MK Dons (who are third bottom) but if they watched the Oxford game (which the Dons won 1-0 last weekend) they will say they are not bad.
“We have to then go to Portman Road (home of second placed Ipswich Town) and then play Rochdale and Portsmouth in quick succession.
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“It’s tough but they are great games to be involved in and then we have an almighty cup tie and if you are a player you will be walking past my office every day smiling at me and bringing me in a biscuit, a present a day, because you want to play in it. Everyone is excited about that.”
The FA Cup game against West Ham United is near to being sold out but today (Saturday) is all about league points and firstly, trying to break into the top half.
MK Dons’ win over Oxford ended a run of 12 without success in the league, doing it against the team who have arguably given the Gills their toughest match this season.
Evans said: “I still think Oxford are the best team we’ve seen as I have watched them neutrally as well as against us. If we’re being honest it was one of the surprise results in League 1 last weekend despite the fact that MK Dons were at home.
“They have a new manager in Russell Martin (who took over from sacked Paul Tisdale last month). He needed the win last Saturday and they needed it.
“They have some very talented players. Paul Tisdale is a good manager and put a good squad together and it will be tough.
“They comfortably deserved to beat Oxford and winning breeds confidence doesn’t it? They have got some excellent players and I don’t think anyone disputes that.
“Everyone was very surprised at their poor run of form at the start of the season, myself included. I know the chairman down there very well and it will have taken a lot for Pete Winkleman (chairman) to pull the plug on a manager. He often supporters beyond support.”
Reflecting on his own team, Evans believes they should already be well inside the top half.
He said: “We should have scored late on against Fleetwood (to nick a winner) but their the guy gets a great block from Ben Pringle but equally we could have lost it.
“It seems to be that we have done a lot of travelling but the boys have come through it, they are fresh and they are feeling great.
“They are in fantastic shape but we have four league games now, three at home and if we can make Priestfield a fortress for the next month and continue what we’ve been doing then we would certainly be in the top 10, looking at that top six.”
