Gillingham boss Steve Lovell isn’t reading anything into the form guide.

Gills top the pile in League 1 alongside Plymouth as the in-form team over the last six games, winning four and drawing two.

It highlights the big impact Lovell has had since taking charge of the Gills, lifting them clear of the drop zone, but his men face a stern test on Saturday at Scunthorpe, against a team who have been on a good run of form themselves.

“Form doesn’t come into it,” said the Gills boss. “It is what happens on the day.

“Whatever has gone, has gone. The last six games have been brilliant for us but now it is the seventh which is the most important.

“We approach it the same way as we have done the others and hopefully get something out of the game.”

Gills fought out a goalless draw against Scunthorpe when the teams last met at Priestfield in October. It was Peter Taylor’s first game in temporary charge and the result left Gillingham two points off the bottom at the time.

Lovell added: “I am sure it will be a different approach to the one they had last time they came here. People know what the club are doing and they have to adjust accordingly.”

Playing away from home certainly won’t worry the Gills, who have already beaten the likes of Charlton, Rotherham, Fleetwood and Peterborough on the road.

Lovell said: “It can be a little bit more open (away from home) which we like because we can exploit the spaces that they leave us.

“When teams come here, they put men behind the ball, which Rochdale did to a certain degree (last weekend). They had to after the first half an hour, when we got in behind them and Tom (Eaves) could have scored a couple of times.”

Lovell will be without Scott Wagstaff this weekend following his latest injury setback but the manager is confident it won’t keep him out for long.

Wagstaff went off at half-time last weekend after pulling up and Lovell said: “That was a bit of a precaution where he felt it (his hamstring) a little bit, which is a shame. There was no point making it any worse than it was.

"He’s working hard and a great pleasure to have in the team. He shouldn’t be too long.”