Gillingham boss Gareth Ainsworth takes his side to Colchester United this weekend to face a side who sit just behind the Gills in the SKYBet League Two table.

The Essex side are a point and two places behind the eighth place Gills and Ainsworth told us this week that he expects another battle, he said, “They will be a really good challenge as they are on a really good run at the moment.

“They are a counter-attacking team – Danny Cowley (the Colchester boss) has got them going after a sticky start and they are playing some free-flowing football and scoring some good goals! We are going to have to be at our best but there is no reason why we can’t go there and pick then points up on the day. It’s important that we go in organised and know what we are doing as I am sure that they will be given the run that they are on which we can hopefully stop on Saturday.”

That run that the Gills boss refers to has seen Colchester lose just once in their last eight and they have won at both leaders Walsall and Notts County in the past weeks – that sole defeat incidentally was at home to Bromley a couple of weeks ago!

Reflecting on last weekend’s 3-3 draw at Shrewsbury where Ainsworth saw his side recover from 1-3 behind in the second period, the Gills boss paid tribute to the supporters who made the trip.

“They always travel great – I’ve said that before. They were great last week even at two one down and then three one which was a real test for them and I’m just glad there wasn’t long till half time, but kicking towards them second half, they got so behind the boys.

“You could see the type of football that we were playing which I was really pleased and proud with – we will do damage to teams, but we have to earn the right to do that. And we did that second half playing composed and playing some good stuff and thoroughly deserved the draw.

“As I said Saturday, I do think five minutes more we would have won the game which would have been an amazing come-back and I just want us to take the end of Saturday into Colchester this week.”

“It’s an early kick off Saturday – I think we are the only League game as its Cup weekend and so it’s a chance to get the points and so we must make the weekend count.”

“It’s a massive bonus that the game has been moved forward from Tuesday night – I think it’s a bonus for everyone that it is a Saturday game. I think the fans will appreciate it rather than a Tuesday night as I know how hard it is getting off work early to get to the game, getting home late and then having to get up the following morning – at least they can take their time getting up there Saturday morning and have the late afternoon and evening to do what they wish, hopefully to celebrate but you never know!”

“Although the schedule is still crazy over Christmas, we would have still loved to have been involved in the FA Cup and keep this game on Tuesday, as the draw for Round Three is something special and everyone wants to be in that but unfortunately not.

“So, the next best thing was to play a League game, and we thank Colchester to agreeing to that and hopefully it will be a good game for everyone on Saturday!”

Ainsworth confirmed that Club Captain Amani Little is back from suspension, and that both Andy Smith and Shad Ogie are in “serious contention” for places in the squad, and the manager is also hopeful that Sam Vokes will be involved despite hobbling off at Shrewsbury last weekend.