Gillingham boss Ady Pennock insists his team aren’t throwing in the towel.

Three straight defeats mean Gillingham are now relying on results elsewhere to keep them out of the League 1 relegation zone.

Pennock said: “Nobody is going to throw the towel in, the players won’t that’s for sure, and if people believe that then they are very wrong indeed.

“The players are very disappointed, like we all are. Everyone will be sticking together and working hard together.

“We have to be very positive and look forward to the game on Saturday. (Defeat to Peterborough) wasn’t for the lack of trying, it was just a poor game all round.”

The Gills sit 19th in League 1, above Port Vale and Shrewsbury, but both of those teams have games in hand over Pennock’s side.

The head coach said: “They (the players) have to embrace it, it is going to be tough, we have six to go and we have to stay up.

“They know what the situation is and what they have to do. We are not giving up, we are going to have a right old go, get them in all next week, work hard and prepare for MK Dons. We have to be positive.”

The Gills are likely to need two more wins to stay up and they have six games left.

Pennock said: “We need to keep doing what we have been doing because we have been working hard in training. They have done shape upon shape and every stone has been unturned.

“It has to click, but it isn’t for the lack of trying. The boys (will) keep trying. We all will.”