Gillingham manager Andy Hessenthaler has urged his team to start playing with the hostile attitude they started the season with.

The Gills have gone off the boil in recent weeks and the manager thinks that may have something to do with a dip in their competitive edge.

Hessenthaler’s side started the season rattling opponents with strong challenges and a fired-up attitude.

"We need to press the ball, make challenges and get people going," said Hessenthaler.

"You have to take the game to the opposition at home. It might need a tackle to get people off their seats. You need to press the ball and run around and stop them dictating."

The Gills picked up a number of bookings in the opening weeks of the campaign due to a more forceful approach but in recent games those bookings have dried up.

"Is there a relation to it?" said Hessenthaler (pictured), who is looking to bounce back from two successive defeats with a home win on Saturday against Accrington.

"You can grind teams down and things will happen for you but if you don’t do that you make it too easy for the opposition."

Danny Jackman and Luke Rooney are likely to keep their place in the team this weekend after impressing last Saturday, while Chris Whelpdale is now fit enough for a starting place. Danny Spiller is also back in contention for a place in the side after missing out last week through illness. He was back training on Wednesday.

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