by Alex Hoad

Manager Mark Stimson was in bullish mood this week ahead of the trip to The Valley on Saturday.

He said: "We have enjoyed the fantastic weather this week. There is a good mood in the camp. We have got four points from six and have got a big game coming up.

"The supporters have been looking forward to this one. This is one of the ones they look out for first when the fixtures are released at the start of the season. There have not been many games between the sides in the last few years.

"It will be a great game for us and we have an army coming to support us. I’m told we have sold 2,500 tickets."

The Gills’ last trip to the capital in early February ended in a 4-0 defeat at Brentford in front of a big away following and Stimson said he hoped to avoid a repeat peformance.

He added: "Every away game we take big numbers with us, we did at Brentford and even at Stockport last week we had big numbers. We want to make the supporters proud in every game but that wasn’t the case in the Brentford game.

"If we can peform on Saturday like we did in the first game against Charlton, then we have every chance.

"They are not on the best of runs but they are a good side. They have got quality, a lot of speed and experience.

"We have a lot of potential in our squad but they have players who have been there, seen it and done it."