Neil Harris previews the visit of Leyton Orient.
Gills boss Neil Harris is looking forward to another tough test on Tuesday evening, with Leyton Orient coming to the MEMS Priestfield Stadium.
Orient could clinch promotion in ME7, and after witnessing Rotherham win promotion at Priestfield last season, Harris is keen to ensure that the Gills can dampen their party atmosphere.
With Gillingham having the opportunity to ensure their own safety on Tuesday, Harris is expecting a fantastic atmosphere from all sections of the ground.
What to expect from Leyton Orient…
Orient will want the ball and to dominate the ball. They have fast players and are good on the counter-attack and counter-press. They ask a lot of questions of you. They’re a good football team.
Over the course of the season, the team that’s top of the league and wins the league are the best team over the course of the season. Orient’s going to be another huge challenge.
The atmosphere…
It’s going to be a great atmosphere. Our fans are loving watching their team at the moment, especially here at Priestfield. Orient will come in their numbers as they can clinch promotion, so it’ll be a cracking night. We don’t want people to celebrate on our patch. We saw that last year with Rotherham, that was hard to take.
For us, it’s to put in the same level of performance. That atmosphere will be great. The fans at Priestfield respond to the opponent as well, so if they bring a good following, we’ll get a good crowd, and it should be a really good semi-local derby. There’s a lot at stake for both teams.
Securing safety…
Our main aim is to secure safety in the division, and we’re very, very close to that now. Mathematically it’s not over, but Hartlepool have got nine points plus goal difference, so ten points to gain on us with four games to go. It’s very tough to do, and that’s just one team being able to catch us.
The level of expectation for the team…
What I ask for from my players is to put in that level of performance again. That level of performance is what they’ve continuously shown here at Priestfield since the start of January.
An update on Oli Hawkins’ absence…
He was ill, so we’re hoping that he will be back and available for selection on Tuesday.