Gillingham Manager Ronnie Jepson expects a tough game when Carlisle United visit Priestfield on Saturday.

Carlisle are seventh in League One but Jepson is confident his side can get something out of the game against a good side: "They are a decent team.  They play a 4-5-1 come 4-3-3.  They go about it in the right manner and have some strong, experienced lads in there as well as a bit of pace in the wide areas.  It will be a tough game but hopefully one here at Priestfield that we can get something out of.

"The results haven't been good but there has been some encouraging aspects of play so we can take something out of that.  Like I have been saying over the last few weeks, it is just sustaining that.  If we can, we will be a match for anyone on our day."

The Gills have yet to keep a clean sheet this season and Jepson admits his side need to defend more from the front: "We have to defend from the front.  It is not just the back four and the goalkeeper.  We need to put a bit of pressure on the ball in the right areas and force people into playing the ball a bit quicker.  It is then difficult for us to hold a high-line without pressure on the ball.  We need to improve on that and maybe we can keep a clean sheet or two.

"When somebody scores a goal against you, if it is a good goal, then you have to hold your hands up sometimes.  Some of the goals we have conceded, they have been too self-inflicted, which disappoints me.  Hopefully we can eradicate that.

"I am trying to get lads in to bolster the squad, which I should have by tomorrow morning, as I need a bit more competition for places, as sometimes players get complacent, and that will give some players that little lift that they need.  Everybody knows that, the supporters, the Chairman and I.  I don't want to bore people but it comes down to availability and affordability as well.  We are scratching about a little bit and we'll see what we can come up with to add to the squad."

One thing that has pleased Jepson so far this season is the amount of goals that have come from the midfield and the Manager hopes this will continue: "It is something we worked on at the beginning of the season.  We had a chat about it but didn't set specific targets in terms of numbers.  I just said to the midfielders and the wide-boys that I need a few goals from them.  That stood out last season like a sore thumb.  The boys are doing something about it this year.  As people have seen in some of our games, we have created numerous chances and hopefully that will continue.

"If it is on, then have a go.  That has always been the case for me.  If you can get yourself into an area to have a strike, then have a strike.  If you can slip somebody in who is in a better position, then do that as well.

"Last season, we struggled to score goals in the latter part of the game.  We are now doing that this season.  Michael Flynn did that on Saturday and we had numerous chances to win it in the last 15 minutes or so.  If we win 3-2, it isn't so bad.  When you draw 2-2, you think you could've done something better.  Guylain Ndumbu-Nsungu came off at the end and he was feeling down as he knew that he should have stuck one or two chances away.

"Sometimes when you are creating chances and they are not going in, that is how it goes.  That is not your day and you have to accept that.  You get out on the training ground and keep working at it.  If the lads are good enough, they will get through it.  If not and they are lacking that bit of quality, then you look to change it around.  We have done that at times this season, although it is difficult.  One thing I will say about the lads is they give me everything that they have got."

Winger Matty Jarvis missed the draw at Brentford with a knee injury but Jepson revealed the 20 year-old is back in training and played in a friendly in midweek: "Matty Jarvis will be playing.  We had a game at Fulham on Tuesday, behind closed door, and he came through that okay after playing 30 minutes.  Brent Sancho and Kelvin Jack both played in that and they will be back out on the training ground and trying to up their work-rate.  Hopefully they will progress into next weekend and we will see where we are up to then.

"They were very tentative about the game up there.  It was a good game up there at Fulham.  They had some decent players out and it was a good test.  I gave Brent and Kelvin half a game each.  It wasn't blood and thunder in terms of tackles but it was played at a good tempo, which is good fitness-wise.  It will get them somewhere close to where we want them to be.  They are a little sore but it was pleasing they have come through it and they are progressing.  I won't say they are there yet as we've had people nearly there and then they are not. 

"We are not a one-man team by any stretch of the imagination.  We have a wonderful togetherness here and Matty Jarvis is a big part of that as are each and every one of the boys that pull on the shirt of Gillingham Football Club.  I like them to have a good spirit, which we have.  Matty gives us something that is a little bit different and a lot of other teams would like that.  We work extremely hard on Matty and I know he appreciates it.  Hopefully we can improve one or two more as we go along.  He is a great addition to the team and squad, not just because of his playing ability but how he conducts himself around the place and off the pitch as well, which is a credit to him and his family."

The draw for the First Round of the FA Cup takes place on Saturday afternoon and Jepson admitted a cup run would be nice for the fans: "It is obviously difficult for us to win the FA Cup!  We are all realistic here at Gillingham but it would be nice to do well for the supporters and put a smile on their faces.  The further you progress, the better chance you have of getting a big name club.  That would be fantastic for the supporters here and for the coffers as well.  We will wait and see what happens.  The more important thing is that we get the lads concentration levels right for the game against Carlisle on Saturday."