A crucial period lies ahead for Gillingham, says boss Steve Lovell.

They begin December with a trip to non-league Slough on Sunday in the FA Cup second round.

Five league games follow as the Gills look to pull themselves clear of the dogfight at the bottom of League 1.

Lovell said: “It’s an important month for us. There are a lot of games in December with the Christmas period and it is important you pick us as many points as you can.

“I think if we have a fit squad to pick from then we will be fine. We are getting that way, although we will now miss Callum (Reilly) for three games (through suspension).”

The Gills head to Slough buoyed by a 2-1 win at fellow strugglers Bristol Rovers.

Lovell said: “With the cup coming up now on Sunday, and a very, very busy December, that will give the players all a lift. I am pleased with it.

“I felt it was a game that we had to win. We needed it to give everyone a boost, all of the players deserved it.

“We could take a lot of pride in the win as a group and push forward and work on it.”

Weekend opponents Slough play in National League South – a league below round one opponents Hartlepool – and overcoming one non-league side already should be good preparation, according to Lovell.

He said: “It will be a tough game again. It is a big game for both teams because we know what can happen in the third round. There won’t be any complacency, definitely not. After what happened at Hartlepool, the boys will have learned from that.”

On Tuesday night the Gills faced a backs-to-the-wall last 20 minutes, holding onto a lead with 10 men. Lovell admitted it was tough to watch.

He was speaking with injured defender and captain Gabriel Zakuanin as the action unfolded.

Lovell said: “Gabs said to me, ‘it is not easy on the side is it?’ He was sat there watching it and he said it was a

nightmare.

“When you are a player you are a bit in control of what is going on but when you are on the sidelines you are not. I did say it is more pleasing getting results like that as a manager than a player.

“As a player you just concentrate on yourself and what you have to do but as a manager you have to concentrate on the whole group and when you get a result like that, with the work ethic they put in, is so pleasing.

“I was proud of them, they deserved it.”