Gillingham look to make it three League Two wins in a row this weekend when they head North to face Accrington Stanley, with assistant coach Robbie Stockdale clear about the challenges ahead… 

Speaking to KSN this week, Stockdale told us, “Confidence is high as that’s what winning League games does for you. We know that we are going to a very difficult game at Accrington – it is never an easy place to go!” 

“They have experienced staff and players who know this level really well. I took MK Dons there last year and it was a really tough game.”

“John Coleman will have his players well organised as they always are… but they did play midweek (against Bolton Wanderers in the EFL Trophy) so we may be able to take advantage of that with our free week going into the game, but as always we will focus on ourselves and focus on how we can hurt the opposition and try to nullify their threats as well.”

“We need to be at the levels that we can get to have any chance of winning any game.” 

“John’s been there forever,” Stockdale continued referring to the Stanley boss’ ten years in the job in which is his second spell at the Club – the first one was between 1999 and 2012 – before adding, “He will not mind me saying that!” 

“John’s sides have always had the same principles, but they have evolved and that is the modern game – it would be wrong to say that they have not.”

“The Gills will have to be ready as they have some good footballers in the team. So, we will be prepared – we are relatively equal in the League at the minute so we will have to try and get all three points to go above them!” 

Reflecting on the Club’s FA Cup defeat to Sheffield United last weekend, Stockdale said, “We did take positives from the game. I thought that aspects of our game were good and strong – we started the game pretty well!”

The Gills will head North without Dom Jefferies who was subbed towards the end of the Cup-tie with a swollen knee, Stockdale said he hoped that the midfielder will only be missing for days rather than weeks, although there is better news of Jonny Williams whose hamstring has responded to treatment and Stockdale is hopeful that the Welshman will travel.