As Gillingham prepare to face Charlton Athletic at Priestfield for only the second time in a League game since 1980, boss Justin Edinburgh has been speaking about the local derby.

The two sides have met twice at Priestfield in that time – a famous 3-2 win for the Gills over the Premier League Addicks in the Third Round of the FA Cup in 2004, before a 1-1 League One draw in 2009.

Edinburgh played himself in many derbies and reflected that: “It’s been a while since the clubs have met, but we’ve been involved in Millwall games and I’m expecting the atmosphere to be similar; the intensity of the game and being at home will be a big lift for everyone and look forward to it very much.”

“The players have played in some big games in their careers – there is obviously an intensity and a passion involved in them and we have to make sure that we get the balance right.”

“We want to get back to winning ways and put smiles back on people’s faces and so it’s a big game.”

“I think players put their mind-set that don’t change anything to what you’d do week in, week out, but there’s more talk around derbies – there’s more anticipation; there’ll be a bigger crowd than normal and the atmosphere is greater, but you try to prepare for it exactly the same.”

“From my experiences as a player, you have to try and play the game and not the occasion and that’s what the players will be told – things happen and the atmosphere is more intense, but it’s dealing with that and playing the game which is the important thing.”

“We were able to field the same team Saturday to Tuesday for the first time in midweek and just as we hope to get some continuity we have to make more changes for the weekend.”

“Over the duration of the season I’m told injuries, suspension and the run of the ball even themselves out and it tends to – we’ve now got to get through the worst of it!”

Gills will be without the injured Scott Wagstaff and the suspended pair of Josh Wright and Deji Oshilaja.

Edinburgh was also asked about a “conversation” he had with a supporter after Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with Walsall.

“It wasn’t a chat,” the Gills boss said, “he was swearing from the top of his voice and I asked him to come down and see if we could talk constructively whether it be criticism or encouragement.”

“But when he came down he continued to swear at the top of his voice and I walked away.”

“That was the beginning and the end of it – a couple of the gentleman’s pals then decided to run down from 25 steps up! I should never had asked him down and just continued to walk, but I did – I thought it might be a good idea to try and have a constructive conversation, but that wasn’t to be and I walked away down the touchline.”

“It’s not something that I would normally do, but could see the frustration and I understand that. But I don’t understand the abuse and I said that if he didn’t have anything constructive, then that’s the end of the conversation and I walked away.”

“Of course everyone is entitled to their opinion if its constructive – I don’t understand the hurling of abuse that was coming from the gentleman’s mouth or was it just or necessary.”

“It’s disappointing really on my behalf for thinking that we would have been able to have a constructive conversation. We are in this business to get results and win football matches, and that’s my job.”

“I don’t hide behind that and I don’t shirk from that – that’s the only thing that we all want and on Saturday victory would give a whole different look to what has been a frustrating start to the season.”

Turning his attention back to Saturday, both sides are level on points, but the Gills find themselves in 15^th, three places below Charlton, with both managers – Edinburgh and Russell Slade – hoping for better times.

Edinburgh admitted, “I don’t think I’ve ever come across Russell either playing or managing, but both sides want to be winning more football matches and so the right result for us on Saturday can change the outlook and I guess that Charlton are looking at that themselves.”

“We’ll continue to work hard and believe in the players and as long as that’s there, I’ve no doubts that the frustrating times that we’re having at the moment will soon be a thing of the past.”