Skipper Stuart O’Keefe has admitted that whilst Gillingham will enjoy this weekend’s national exposure in the Third Round of the Emirates FA Cup, the real focus is the crucial run of League games that follow.

At this week’s press briefing – which “surprisingly” was attended by more than just the usual suspects – O’Keefe told us, “at the end of the day, we’ve got to understand that we’re bottom of the League and we’re going to get flack and we’re going to get discontent, but as players we have to go back to our morals and work hard and believe, take confidence – you can’t give up, you can’t throw the towel in.”

“You have to come back Monday morning and work harder and try and get better every single day. We’re not going to get out of this by feeling sorry for ourselves, by moaning about the crowd booing us or whatever, we have to stay strong as a group and a Football Club and turn the corner.”

“And when we do turn the corner, the fans will be with us – they will be with us this weekend – and we’ve got to take that positive energy and have a positive week next week ahead of a massive game against Hartlepool and other big games in the rest of January.”

“Hartlepool is undoubtedly the bigger game for us at the moment – it’s a massive game for the Football Club. Leicester this weekend is a game that we will all enjoy.”

“FA Cup for lower League teams is all about getting to the Third Round and an occasion that we have this weekend – that’s all it’s about! As a footballer you want to play in front of Premier League players and in front of big crowds and the TV cameras.”

“We haven’t had much to cheer about this year so we’re going to enjoy it!”

“We had hurdles of AFC Fylde and Dagenham & Redbridge which we had to overcome after two games, and we just about did it and Saturday is our reward for that.”

“Once Saturday is done and we enjoy the occasion – and we will and who knows maybe we will make an upset which will be fantastic – at the end of the day, Hartlepool next Saturday is the massive game for this Football Club and we’ve got to take the positive energy from a full Priestfield this week into next week and make sure we get a result against Hartlepool.”

“There’s no pressure on us in the slightest! We’re bottom of the Football League playing against a Premier League team… we’re going to enjoy it, I’m sure the fans will, and let’s see if Leicester turn up or not…”