A re-run of Gillingham’s Boxing Day clash with Colchester was painful viewing for Neil Harris but he’s expecting much better quality this time around.

Both sides have been spending money on new players this month - one League 2 manager said the two teams had “changed the landscape of the January transfer window” - and Harris is sure his new-look team will be much improved from the 1-0 defeat against the U’s when they met for the festive fixture at Priestfield.

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The Gills will be backed by around 1,000 fans at Colchester, buoyed by the positive impact of new owner Brad Galinson and the club’s newly-acquired players - seven so far. Colchester have also been spending money as they too look to pull clear of the League 2 drop zone.

Boss Harris said: “Colchester have improved, beating us set them on a good run, but I didn’t feel they deserved to win, there was nothing in it. They have had good results since and an upturn in fortunes, we have just started to do that and we have to continue to do that.

“Watching that (Boxing Day) game back this week was painful and difficult. It was a poor game but that is gone. It is not going to be a completely smooth ride between now and the end of the season but I want to go with the same positivity and excitement (as last Saturday) and keep the players in that mental place going into another huge game.

“I expect a competitive game. (Colchester) are a big side, aggressive, play forward, run forward, do the basics really well, they’ve got some quality and experience. They have added well in the window and so have a competitive squad.

“We are a very changed set-up now. We know to expect a well-drilled side who are playing with confidence, because they have had a good run of results, but we are in a great place ourselves at the moment. I think the game will be a lot better quality than it was on Boxing Day.”

The Gills beat Hartlepool 2-0 last Saturday in a bottom-two clash. Victory ended Gillingham’s 12-game winless streak in the league but they remain bottom of the table - albeit with games in hand over the teams above them.

Colchester have won their last three matches in League 2. It’s four wins from their last five since beating the Gills, lifting the side seven points clear of the bottom two. Priestfield old-boy John Akinde has also been playing well, with a couple of goals in that run.

Gillingham will be heading to Essex full of confidence too, with another three signings since the weekend. George Lapslie could make his debut after joining from Mansfield. Younger additions Jayden Clarke and Ethan Coleman will also be hoping to play some part.

Harris said: “Last Saturday was a great day and a strong performance, our aim now is to not step back from that level of performance, we can’t step back one inch. We have to carry on moving forward as a club, off and on the pitch.

“My message to the players has been really simple, we’ve set the standard, that cannot change, we have to be as good as that, if not better, for the rest of the season.

“I am buzzing, the group is buzzing, the football club is buzzing but it’s one step at a time, you have to make sure everything we did Saturday we have to replicate this weekend.

“(Last Saturday) felt like a fresh start. We are desperate to get the first away win of the season and desperate to take some points off the team just above us but I want a positive performance and a positive reaction from the players, we have to keep building the momentum.

"I know we are on the right path and whatever comes Saturday at 5pm I know we are a club moving in the right direction and I know we will win enough games this year."