Defender Cheye Alexander has praised the Gillingham fans for their vocal support ahead of Saturday’s clash with Mansfield Town at Priestfield.

Gillingham face their toughest test at Priestfield so far this season as unbeaten Mansfield Town come to Kent a solitary place behind Neil Harris’ side who go into the weekend in second place in the League Two table. 

Fortunately for all the players, the weather conditions look like they will be more favourable than the last two home games when the mercury soared in the thermometer.

“I like the warm weather,” Gills defender Cheye Alexander joked!

“Seriously, the last two games here at Priestfield have been crazy hot and I think we are all hoping it will be cooler on Saturday.”

“It has been difficult playing in conditions like that – especially the heat we had when we beat Morecambe the week before – I was told that it was one of the hottest days here ever. But we got through it and won the game.” 

“I think that those results show the resilience of this team – everyone gets each other, everyone’s got each other’s backs, and everyone gives everyone confidence day in and day out – it’s a team thing and everyone is ambitious and pushing each other.” 

“It’s been good since the summer – we had half a squad anyway – but the new boys who have come in are players that many of us have known and played against before and so we all kind of knew each other.” 

In the last home game, the game was played with the home side attacking the Rainham End in the opening half rather than the second half – we asked Alexander how that could possibly affect the players; he told us, “for me it was no different, I just looked at it as the opponents knew that we shoot that way in the second half and normally do score a few goals in the second half, but I don’t think it really changed anything!” 

“We know that whatever happens we have to get results here if we are going to achieve anything.”

“We know that we have to win home and away, but we will take one game at a time and every single game we play here at Priestfield we want to win for ourselves and the supporters.”

“When we first come out of the dressing room and walk into the noise, it is great, but we know that we have to be focused on the job at hand.”

“Of course, we hear the sound that the fans are making and it’s wonderful, but as a player you have to switch off and concentrate on your own game, but the feeling is absolutely amazing, and it certainly does lift you up for the game ahead…” 

“So please keep it up!”