More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
Head coach Stephen Clemence says getting Gillingham into the play-offs could be his biggest success in the game - knowing they face a big task ahead.
The Gills have it all to do to finish inside the top seven as they start this weekend 10th in the table having played more games than most and with a poor goal difference. Clemence was in a confident mood this week as he challenged his side to go and get the wins needed to make it.
More: Striker boost ahead of Morecambe trip
Up next is a trip to fellow play-off hopefuls Morecambe - a side lacking in form after three straight defeats.
“It would mean everything to me if we were to get into the play-offs,” said the head coach.
“It would probably be the biggest achievement in my career.
“I would love to lead a team out at Wembley, it would be absolutely fantastic, the boys want the same thing as well so we will be giving it our utmost to get there.
“There is no reason why with seven games to go we can’t turn this around.
“We are one point off the play-offs, let’s keep going, let’s all keep believing as a football club and look forward to the game on Saturday.”
The Gills need to pick their own form up with just two points taken from a possible 12 in their last four games. Frustrating home draws against Grimsby and Tranmere came amid away defeats at Barrow and Wimbledon.
The Gills need wins now to get them involved, likely needing at least four maximum-point hauls to be in with a shout.
Gills’ upbeat boss said: “We haven’t taken enough points recently and we know we have to win games between now and the end of the season.
“The team is well capable of going on a run but we need to take care of the next game first, the boys are fully focused, right up for it and they are all looking forward to the game.
“I know that at this stage of the season taking two points from a possible 12 isn’t ideal but I feel we should have had six.
“I felt we deserved to get beaten at Barrow and we went down to 10 men at Wimbledon, that was always going to be difficult when it’s 10 v 11, but I felt the last two home performances have been pretty good and we’ve been unfortunate not to get maximum points from them.
“The challenge is to go again this weekend, we’ve got a big game in front of us and we need to keep trying to do the right things. I really believe that if the group keep doing the right things they will score a few goals.
“From the start we need to get after them and try and get the victory.
“We have to show intent on the road, be consistent and play in both halves, that is also a challenge I have laid down to the boys, seven games to go, 14 halves of football.
“We have to attack every half of football, we can’t waste halves at this stage of the season, we have probably wasted too many.
“It will be tough, Morecambe have had a good season, their results haven’t been so good lately but they did have a real good run after Christmas, they have some good players but so have we.
“We’re one point off the play-offs and if you can’t be looking forward to a game like this then there is something wrong with you.
“Seven games left, 21 points to play for, we’ll be right up for it. It is about us and how we take our game to them.”
“Let’s all believe together, you can only achieve this together, we all have to keep believing, no negativity, let’s all get behind each other and see what the season brings. We are still in there.
“The fans have a big part to play along with the players. The fans are going to have to keep believing and pushing the boys on until that final whistle goes. When we’re on the pitch let’s all be together and see what we can achieve this season because we still can do things.”
