Gillingham boss Justin Edinburgh has urged supporters to still back their team when the going gets tough.

The Gills responded positively to the 4-1 drubbing at leaders Coventry last Saturday by beating Rochdale at Priestfield on Tuesday night.

The result moves Edinburgh’s rookie squad within a point of top spot in League 1 but the boss wants fans to have realistic expectations despite their lofty position.

“There is too much doom and gloom after one defeat,” warned Edinburgh, whose side travel to Shrewsbury on Saturday.

“I do understand, though. With how well we have done, there will be different levels of expectations. The result was bad at Coventry but if anyone studied it again and took the 12 minutes out, there wasn’t a lot in it.

“We have to learn from that and learn quickly because we conceded two quick goals at Walsall but you don’t learn overnight, it takes time.

“I do feel sometimes people can be too critical of the group."

Gillingham have never been out the top four this season.

“This is where we want to be and those games at Coventry are the ones we want to be playing in,” Edinburgh added.

“We are learning quickly. We are not learning mid-table where there are no expectations, no pressure, we are learning at the top end and that’s the best end to be learning.”