Southend v Gillingham

GILLINGHAM travel to Southend en-masse on Friday in the hope of finally putting their relegation troubles behind them.

The match is expected to be a sell-out, with Gills fans quickly snapping up the 1,200 away tickets on sale, as the club go searching for a fifth straight league victory.

That feat hasn’t been achieved since Christmas 1999 and Gillingham won’t have faced a harder task all season.

Southend, sitting at the top of League 1 with an eight-point cushion, are clear favourites to win but Gills boss Ronnie Jepson knows his team are more than capable of causing an upset, as proved over the last few weeks.

Jepson said: "We’ve won some good games and beaten teams people have given us no chance of winning against."

Gillingham have put an eight-point gap between themselves and the relegation zone but Jepson remains cautiously looking over his shoulder.

"It’s been a difficult season and we just need to get enough points on the board now," said Jepson. "I’d like to think the confidence is coming back but the boys have got quality as well.

"Southend have got a good side and it’s going to be a difficult game and it’ll be nice if we can play like we have in our last four. We go there with no fear but what we will have is respect."

Gillingham were handed an additional 200 tickets for the match, after the original 1,000 quickly sold out and Jepson will be hoping to give those weary supporters some further joy.

He said: "It will be nice to have a lot of support for the lads, the supporters have been great going away all season and I hope we can give them some more cheer."