Gills boss Justin Edinburgh has been looking forward to the club’s Emirates FA Cup First Round tie against Brackley Town at Priestfield this weekend.

When he spoke to the Press this week, the Gills boss admitted that his side were on a hiding to nothing.

“It’s a game that Brackley will be looking forward to with the giant-killing scenario as we were at Watford and Tottenham in the EFL Cup.”

“Of course we’re expected to win and comfortably but it’s not always that easy and we’re in a no-win situation really!  But that’s not a problem and we’re in a results business and we need to start getting some.”

“They’ll be up for the game and looking forward to it with everything to gain and nothing to lose. There will be a lot more energy I expect in their game than usual and we’ll have to make sure that we match it. We need to win football matches and we haven’t won enough recently, so of course whatever game we play, we look to win and Saturday presents the opportunity to get that win.”

“The FA Cup is the biggest club cup competition in the world as far as I’m concerned – can we win it? Unlikely, but can we have a good run in it? Now that’s another story…”

“A cup run lifts spirits and morale without question – it could be a turning point in our season! There’s a confidence within the group and the belief’s there but there’s no doubt that a win would accelerate things.”

The Gills boss was then asked about his own memories, which of course includes a winners medal from 1991.

“It’s a special competition for me as a player and it remains so as a manager,” Edinburgh admitted.

“It’s an historic competition and I was fortunate enough to not only win it but also play in a couple of semi-finals too, so I’ve got some happy moments – and some huge disappointments – it’s a competition that I look back on with fondness and hope that continues on Saturday!”

“We all know that there will be one, two or maybe even more surprises and Brackley will come here knowing that they can cause one of them. We know what to expect and have to deal with it”

The game of course will bring back nightmares for Gills fans following defeat to the same opposition in a televised replay three years ago.

“I do remember seeing the replay last time on TV – I think it was one of Peter Taylor’s first games.” Edinburgh confirmed.

“I knew a couple of the players at the time – Danny Kedwell being one – and I do vaguely remember seeing the game and I know Peter from working with him in the past.”

“We also know that results like that do happen and it’s something that we’ve spoken about all week to the players so that it won’t be us this time.”

“We know the importance of the win on Saturday and that’ll be our mindset going into the game. The long and short of it is that we win the game – we know what a couple of wins in the Cup can do for the club and the lift it can give, the exposure and that feeling. What we need is to get a victory on Saturday.”

“We probably won’t have anyone back who missed Fleetwood and Chris Herd isn’t allowed to play which is very disappointing, but there are many permutations and options that we’ll consider before we name our side on Saturday afternoon.”