Gillingham lost at Newport County’s Rodney Parade in November but Neil Harris’ team are much changed for the return match at Priestfield this Saturday

Gillingham manager Neil Harris didn’t mince his words last time the team played Newport County - but he’s all smiles now.

Back in November the Gills dropped to 23rd in the table off the back of a 2-0 loss in South Wales and it wouldn’t be long before they were rock bottom of League 2.

Manager demands strong finish

Harris was fed up, the fans were fearing non-league football and the players had some stinging criticism in their ears off the back of that loss.

Reacting to defeat that day, Harris said: “I am fed up with the situation, fed up of standing on the sideline and us making the same mistakes.

“I do enjoy my job. Am I prepared to walk away today? No. But I am fed up of watching the same old crap.”

Harris is now only interested in looking forward and who can blame him? Fast forward 162 days since that defeat and the mood couldn’t be any different as they prepare to play Newport again.

Gillingham have turned it around in stunning fashion to put those dark days firmly behind them.

“I don’t need to look at the game back,” Harris said. “I know where we came unstuck but funnily enough we did have some really good chances on the day as well.

“We are a completely different team, a completely different set-up at the moment, so I try not to revisit that.

“There is a completely different feel now. Other managers and coaches talk to us after games, about being a completely different team to what they remember. It’s chalk and cheese.

“They were cutting words (said post-Newport). It shows where I was at at the time, and the fans. It was a difficult period. For me it was built over a few months but for the fanbase probably built over a bit longer. We have come a long way.

“We have hopefully come out of the dark side into brighter