Victory over Walsall took the Gills out of the bottom four on Saturday and Sean Clare is hoping they can now build on that.

The Sheffield Wednesday loanee said: “It is definitely a boost and we have been there for a long time.

“To get out of there takes a weight off our shoulders, but it’s just the beginning. We need to keep winning and keep getting further away from that relegation zone.”

Despite Gills’ good form under the management of Steve Lovell – winning three of the six games he has been in charge of – only now have they managed to finally climb out of the bottom four, and only on goal difference.

Clare said: “It has been frustrating. We have put in some very positive performances, at Peterborough and Rotherham and the Wigan draw which was good, but we haven’t moved much.

“Teams around us have been getting results as well but to get our name out of there, even if it is just on goal difference, is a really big boost. It should help us kick on and keep getting results.

Conor Wilkinson got the winner on Saturday, which didn’t surprise Clare.

“It was brilliant for him,” said the 21-year-old. “Hopefully he can carry on scoring.

“I said to him before the game that I thought he was going to score and he did, and he was quality again, like he was last week.

“I do have special feelings before games, they are not always right, but I have had a couple right this season.”

Last week Lovell declared his desire to keep Clare at the Gills for the remainder of the season, something the player is open to.

He said: “We have had a couple of talks, nothing cemented yet, but he has shown that he is keen for me to stay here. I am grateful for him to give me the game time.

“I would like to pay him back by trying to stay if I can."