A weekend of FA Cup shocks has given the Gills extra hope ahead of a daunting challenge in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.

Gillingham travel to Bristol City on Thursday night, trailing 4-2 following the area final first leg at Priestfield on January 6.

During the latest round of the FA Cup, Bradford put four goals past Chelsea, Manchester United were held to a draw by League 2 Cambridge United and Manchester City were dumped out by lower league opposition.

Tottenham lost at home to Leicester and Southampton also suffered a home defeat.

Gills coach Andy Hessenthaler said: “The FA Cup results over the weekend have given us hope. It was a crazy weekend with some of the biggest upsets in the competition for a very long time.

“Bradford was a fantastic result and it gives us a bit of hope for Thursday night. We can give it a real go.

“We’ve got an opportunity to get to Wembley and there is no real pressure on us.

“We are two goals down and we have to go to the best team in the league by a mile and try and turn that around. It’s not going to be easy but we have nothing to lose.”

Hessenthaler knows that the first goal will be key, as the Gills attempt to book a place in the final against Walsall at Wembley.

He said: “If we can get it then you never know, the game might change, but if they get the first goal it is going to be a difficult task.”

The Gills need goals on Thursday night but Hessenthaler remains wary of a side who have already beaten them three times this season, scoring nine goals in the process.

Hessenthaler said: “My own personal view is that we have to look to say in the game early and let the game develop from there. I don’t think we can be gung-ho at the start.

“If we can get to a situation where it is still pretty tight we might have to think about going for it.

“Unfortunately because of us going for it, going the other way could cause us a problem, because they are such a good side.

“We know we are up against it but we will have the right attitude, the right work ethic and let’s see if we can pull off a surprise.”

There is no away goal rule in the competition and no extra time. If the aggregate score is tied at the end of Thursday’s game then penalties will decide the outcome.