Gillingham Football Club

Gillingham manager Justin Edinburgh says victory, and not revenge, is top of the agenda ahead of Saturday’s game against play-off chasers Coventry City.

In front of potentially the biggest home crowd of the season at the MEMS Priestfield Stadium, the Gills will look to extend their unbeaten run to five games and boost their promotion chances.

The Gills lost 4-1 against the Sky Blues in November, which saw City leapfrog Edinburgh’s side at the top of League One.

“We were well beaten there, in a real short space of time, with four goals coming in 12 minutes or so,” said Edinburgh. “That’s very unlike this team, but we’ve learned from that.

“No revenge comes to mind, all that matters is that we go out there and collect three points.

“I found that we showed character in the second half, we could’ve crumbled and they could have gone on a rout.

“We had a response after that game and we got back on a run.”

Having collected eight points from the last four matches, three of which have come away from home and with a squad missing John Egan, Bradley Dack, Doug Loft and Cody McDonald, Edinburgh believes his side have displayed inner steel in the last month.

He added: “There’s a very good mood in the camp. For all the injuries we’ve had, we’ve stayed as a pack. That says volumes about the squad.

“We’ve picked up good results of late, three of the last four were away from home, and that shows a good mental strength.”

Ryan Jackson, substituted against Bury on Easter Monday with cramp, will be among those competing for selection tomorrow. Max Ehmer broke his nose in that game, but will wear a protective mask if named in the starting XI.

However, Edinburgh believes tomorrow’s game will come too soon for Dack and Egan.

“They are close to returning; John has trained this week for four or five days now, so that’s a boost. He’ll come into contention for Sheffield United [next Saturday],” he added.

 

“Bradley trained again for the first time again today, so that’s massive.”