Gillingham legend Nicky Southall says the current crop need to make Priestfield a horrible place for teams to visit.

Southall was speaking on this week’s KM Football Podcast and pointed to Gills’ home form as a major factor to winning their battle for survival in

League 1.

He said: “Now the distraction of the FA Cup has gone they need to knuckle down and focus on the challenge ahead because it will be a challenge.

“One thing that is noticeable is that they need to turn their home form around. Away from home they seem to do pretty well in the league but when I was a player there we used to make Priestfield a horrible place for people to come.

“We turned it into a battle and that’s what they need to do, they have to make that place not an easy one to come and get three points. If they do that they have every chance to stay up.”

Southall, now 47, is currently assisting Andy Hessenthaler at Dover in the National League, facing a fight for survival themselves.

He had four spells with the Gills and says it’s a place he will always cherish.

Southall moved south after joining the Gills from Grimsby in 1997.

“It was one of those unfashionable clubs at the time,” Southall recalled.

“Paul Scally (the Gills chairman) flew me down from Grimsby and I ended up staying at his house with him. That personal touch really sold the club to me.

“I have always had a brilliant rapport with the fans, they have always made me feel special and even to this day, you miss it. Even when I am driving past the ground my car just wants to pull in there.”

Listen to more from Nicky on this week’s KM Football Podcast, where he also reflects on three very different Wembley visits and a reunion with referee Mark Halsey.