Gillingham manager Andy Hessenthaler has conceded that his side will probably have to win their last four games to make the play-offs.

Defeat to Dagenham & Redbridge on Monday afternoon has left The Gills still four points adrift of Oxford United in seventh with just the four games left to play.

The 2-1 loss came as a big shock to many Gills fans with the Daggers struggling at the wrong end of the League Twon table, but Hessenthaler admitted the Essex side deserved to win:

“They deserved to win and I’m pleased for them that they are safe now, but it’s dented our chances of getting into the play-offs,” he said to BBC Radio Kent.

“It’s made things really difficult. Realistically we have to win our last four games.”

“You’ve got to earn the right to win the game and they stopped us from doing that. A few of our boys weren’t on their game but that’s not through lack of trying, we had a go but we got frustrated and a bit nervous.

“We’ve got to handle situations like that, perhaps some players can’t. We weren’t good enough, we didn’t really get going. They came to frustrate us and make things difficult.”

Despite the odds not looking good for The Gills, Hessenthaler admitted that his side hadn’t given up all hope of making the play-offs with a trip to Oxford to come this weekend:

“We’re still in there, the chairman’s come in and said ‘get your heads up’, but we’ve got a mountain to climb. We’ve got to win four our of four and we’re making it very difficult for ourselves.”

With Crewe beating Bristol Rovers 3-0 on Monday afternoon, The Gills look to be one of four clubs aiming for the last play-off spot with Rotherham drawing level on points after their 1-0 win over Cheltenham.

Gillingham’s run in looks tricky to say the least with Swindon Town to visit Priestfield on Saturday 21st April, with a trip to Northampton to follow the week after.

They then finish their season with a home game against Morecambe on Saturday 5th May.