Gillingham have won their first four matches in their League 2 season and come up against Colchester United this Saturday

Gillingham manager Neil Harris admits his players are doing a fine job of hampering his efforts to play down expectations this season.

Harris knew his side would be competitive this season but didn’t want to burden them with any extra pressure. But with four wins from four and a Carabao Cup scalp inbetween, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to keep excitement levels down.

More: Gills players in BMW street crash

Gills are now the bookies’ favourites for promotion from League 2, having won all of their league games 1-0. They would make history this Saturday by claiming a fifth win on the spin at the start of their campaign. No Gillingham side has done that before.

Harris said: “I am the one who is trying to manage expectations all the time and trying to play everything down but the players are making it really difficult for me!

“We have 42 games to go, plus cup games, it is just the start.

“The bigger picture is that we have got 12 points and four clean sheets, and when we do have a blip then we have points in the bag.”

A 1-0 win at Crawley last Saturday matched the four wins achieved by Tony Pulis’ side at the start of the 1995/96 season. It was the beginning of a thrilling journey to the Championship under Paul Scally’s ownership.

Hopes of making it five wins back then were ended with a home defeat against Colchester. Harris will be hoping at least that part of history doesn’t repeat itself this Saturday as it’s Colchester again who are heading to Priestfield.

It’s a top versus bottom clash, with winless Colchester losing their opening three games of the season. Their first match, at home to Swindon, was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

Harris won’t allow complacency in the camp and his team are already on a