Jack Tucker says the squad has a real belief as they prepare to head to the Kassam Stadium to take on play-off chasing Oxford United.
Gillingham supporters will have been studying the Sky Bet League One table over the last few weeks and been thinking, “maybe… just maybe.” The Kent side’s recent good form has propelled them to within touching distance of the play-offs, but with fixtures running out, it is going to take something even more special to break into them.
Local-born defender Jack Tucker, however, is adamant the Gills have a real chance, and he is determined not to blow it.
“The mood is high and we are feeling confident,” insists the 21-year-old ahead of the season’s final stretch. “We have five games to go and win, and we will do absolutely everything we can to do that.”
The team will travel to Oxford on Saturday to face an opposition in good form, scoring goals for fun and harbouring play-off dreams of their own. Tucker, speaking with the local press via Zoom, believes it is the perfect opportunity for Gillingham to make a huge statement and he and his teammates won’t need any more motivation than that.
He said: “If you can’t get riled up by the thought of being in the play-offs then you shouldn’t be playing football. We know what is at stake and everybody has their own inner motivation and drive.
“We look at every game as a must-win. We go into every game looking to take three points, whether that be against the teams at the top of the league or lower down. At this stage of the season, it is very much a results business; we are looking forward to it.
“It is a long shot and we have obviously given ourselves a lot to do having not been on the best form up until Christmas, but we have picked up and shown we are capable of winning four out of five games.
“We have a belief and our own way of playing. When we play with that intensity, then there aren’t many teams who can deal with us.
“We know what we are capable of. We defeated Oxford earlier in the season, so we know they are beatable. They are on a very good run, so they will be tough to play against, but we are confident.
“We have shown we are good enough to compete at the top of League One. We are a side to be reckoned with, no matter who we are up against. We want to finish the season strongly and see where it takes us.”