Under boss Mark Bonner, Gillingham are just one of three teams with a perfect SKYBET League Two record as they prepare for another long trip to the Northwest this weekend to face Fleetwood Town at the Highbury Stadium. 

Speaking to the media this week, the Gills boss admitted that he was hoping for a better trip north this week as last Friday, it took the team bus eight and a half hours to reach the hotel before the 1-0 win at Morecambe.  

“It will be a good game, they have had a good start with a victory first day and a superb result in the Cup at home to West Brom.

“I went to their game Sunday away to Notts County where they were two up and conceded a late penalty, it was a fair result in the end on balance of play; they played well. They have had a really good start.

“I know them from last season, have played against them a couple of times and know several of their players, I think they have signed well, and they have certainly got off to a good start this season. For us, we know that it is going to be a tough one and a good test for where we are.

“I said the same last week before we went to Morecambe as we have in the next few games some well fancied sides, so it will be a good challenge for us to see where we are and if we can keep taking points.” 

“There’s a good vibe about the place; in fairness it is probably no different to what it has been. I do think that it gives you a little bounce in your step when you get good results as clearly at this stage of the season, you want as many as you can as a consequence to the games that was not there in pre-season, it does make a difference.

“The other thing is that when you win late having gone through some of the challenges of last week, that can be good for your team; when you win with players that have contributed outside of the starting team, I think that that is big as well!” 

“It was a big week for us last week as well and to come out of it with a really quality result, I think was a big moment for us so far, but we have to keep trying to do it, we still have some key players missing but it gives others a chance, and the confidence of the team overall and the squad just grows when you know you can still get results. So that will be what we are going after this weekend!” 

There was some positive news on the squad front as Bonner confirmed: “Timmy Dieng and Arron Rowe have both trained all week so they will be available; Bradley Dack and Ethan Coleman have been training which is excellent – three sessions this week.

“Josh Andrews and Elliott Nevitt are back on footballs today, Josh has been out three days this week on the grass, not with us, but in the main group on the training pitch.

“We are not far away from having a few of those boys back. Euan Williams is suspended but is back out training with us as well, we are getting good numbers around the team which is helpful, and we will certainly benefit from that this weekend!”