Gillingham are facing a crucial few days in their relegation fight - starting at fellow strugglers Doncaster Rovers this weekend.

Manager Neil Harris knows how important the coming days ahead are. There are just 10 games remaining for the Gills, who are three points adrift of safety.

They follow up their weekend visit to Doncaster with a Tuesday night trip to Charlton Athletic and the visit of giants Sheffield Wednesday next weekend.

Harris has helped give fans some hope of survival but wins are a must now if they want to avoid dropping into the bottom tier of the EFL.

Harris said: “I have to focus on next Saturday at Doncaster and I have protected the players and the mentality of the group but what I will say, this next week we have is a massive week, three games in a week, three tough fixtures for different reasons but three really good fixtures to look forward to. I cannot wait.”

Harris had to pick his players back up again on Monday following their 3-0 home defeat to Bolton on Saturday. It was a weekend where the teams around them also lost.

The Gills didn't lose any further ground after a busy midweek for their rivals.

Looking to this weekend’s challenge, Harris said: “We’ll have a gameplan to nullify Doncaster’s threats and also to impose ourselves on the game.

“We will still be confident. Saturday was a setback, we got beaten by the better side and deservedly lost, but I will pick the players up.”

Harris hopes his own positive vibes are helping to keep the Gills players in confident mood, despite many already writing them off.

“You find ways to cheer them up,” he said.

“I reminded them afterwards (on Saturday), after a few choice words, how great they had done for me.

“Ultimately I can only judge them on my time in charge

and they have been fantastic for me.

“Our levels were slightly off it (against Bolton) and pressing was slightly wrong. Did we look lethargic? I would like to think not but we weren’t quite the same team as we had been in previous games and so I have to look at that.

“What they did do is they ran, they ran and had a go and competed for every ball. We learn, we review, look at how we went wrong, how we can improve and pick the players up.”

Gillingham look like needing to win at least five of their last 10 games, with a few draws thrown in, too. It’s a huge ask.

“It would be a huge achievement if we can do it,” said Harris.

“The challenge hasn’t been picking the football club up off the floor, because you come in and bounce around and bring that character with you and you let players enjoy training, you give them confidence.

“We have brought in new members of staff already, the football club is moving in the right direction, that is all behind the scenes.

“What we have to do is get it right on the pitch as well and apart form 45 minutes against Plymouth and the first 20 minutes (against Bolton) when we got it wrong, the lads have been great.”