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Hess: We must focus on the future

00:00, 20 February 2002

updated: 10:56, 20 February 2002

GILLINGHAM boss Andy Hessenthaler has called on his players to look forward, not back at Saturday's FA Cup heroics against Arsenal at Highbury.

The manager called time on reminiscing, stressing the need to focus on Saturday's home game against Bradford City when victory will earn the club the vital 50 points he prescribed as essential to guarantee survival. Hessenthaler put it bluntly when he said: "Arsenal is over and we've got to come back to earth and get those three points against Bradford City on Saturday.

"I won't have to lift the players because they're on a high after doing so well against Arsenal. What is important is that we take the confidence gained from the Arsenal performance into our league matches.

"For the most part on Saturday, Arsenal found us hard to play against and we must be just as hard to play against when we're at home because we've done it at places like Wolves, Preston and Coventry."

He added: "I said from day one this season that survival, and with it a third season playing in Division 1, was the priority and nothing has changed. Once we have 50 points in the bag the pressure will be off and we'll take a look at the play-offs."

Chairman Paul Scally believes Gillingham have what it takes to reach the play-offs.

He said: "With 13 games to play we still have a chance of reaching the play-offs if we put three or four wins together. The play-offs are wide open for probably eight or nine clubs."

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