by Max Meads, reporter

Gillingham boss Steve Lovell has said the pressure is on table-topping Portsmouth not get caught up in their recent form, ahead of the Gills’ match with them this Saturday.

The Gills are without a win in eight, but Lovell has called on the players and fans alike to keep the faith after a 2-2 draw to Shrewsbury last Saturday, which he said they were unlucky to not have won.

“It was disappointing we didn’t win. We went one up, and when we got in front I thought it was a chance to really defend properly and come home with three points,” Lovell said in a press conference yesterday.

“Unfortunately, we conceded in the second half and late on we conceded possession with a late free kick, they broke through and got a goal.”

“I’ve said before, it’s something we need to stop.”

Lovell guided the Gills to their first-ever win at Portsmouth last season, and he has warned that it will be a major test for the winless side, but he has faith that the players can eke out a result if they play right.

“Last year they (Portsmouth) were good, this year they’re even better. It will be a big challenge for us, but it’s one that we’re looking forward to,” Lovell said.

“We’ll go down there and we will give it everything; we aren’t going to sit back and soak up pressure because I don’t believe in that.”

There have been a mixed set of reactions from Gills fans following their poor start to the season.

Many have been full of sympathy for Lovell and his team, saying that the resources given to him are not enough to keep the club from avoiding the drop to League Two this season.

Some, however, have bemoaned the club for not providing enough to Lovell, and are saying that he is not the best fit for the team, stating that the team needs to get ‘back to basics’.

When asked about the lack of results and the way in which he has the team lay, Lovell had plenty to say.

“I have been playing players where I wouldn’t normally. I like playing the diamond,” Lovell said.

“That’s how we started at the beginning of the season, but the past couple of weeks I’ve switched to playing a 4-5-1; I didn’t feel we had the players in the right areas to play diamond well.”

After such a poor run of form, many questions have been asked about the confidence in the changing room among players.

Lovell admitted yesterday that confidence among some is low, but he trusts in the team to come good and called on them to start believing in themselves.

“You have to manage them as individuals, you have to talk to them and give them confidence if they’re lacking,” Lovell said.

“When you’re on a losing streak it’s easy to lose that faith in yourself as a player so that’s what we do as staff, we build them back up.”

“The run of results we’ve had, my confidence could be shattered, but that won’t get me anywhere. I have confidence in myself to turn it around.”

“It’ll change. I have a great bunch of lads and they want to work hard and listen. I do believe it’s only a matter of time.”