Gillingham manager Gareth Ainsworth expects a tough game against Steve Evans’ Bristol Rovers at Priestfield this Saturday

Gillingham’s run of games against promotion chasers is over, but Gareth Ainsworth still expects a tough test at Priestfield on Saturday.

Former manager Steve Evans returns to town this weekend with his improving Bristol Rovers team.

“At this stage of the season, nobody’s an easy game,” insisted the current Gills boss.

“People are fighting for their lives everywhere. Even the ones in the middle are playing with a lot of freedom, with nothing to play for, no up or down. They’re just playing with freedom.

“There’s no easy games in this league, we know that. When Steve Evans gets hold of a team, you know they’re going to be tough to beat.”

Evans led the Gills to 10th-place finishes in League 1 during successive seasons. His first was cut short by Covid while they were still hoping for a shot at the play-offs.

His time as boss ended with the sack in January 2022, seven points inside the relegation zone and having spoken openly of his frustration at the club’s limited resources.

Following his exit from the Gills, Evans led Stevenage to promotion from League 2 and returned to Rotherham before taking the Rovers job in December, a side who had lost 10 games in a row.

They’ve improved thanks to Evans’ January recruitment, and a 1-0 win on Tuesday against Shrewsbury leaves them 10 points clear of the drop zone

“We’ve had some good battles,” said Ainsworth.

“We all speak highly of each other because the things you go through as a manager, and it’s not just on the touchline, it’s daily and weekly.

League 2 table;

“I was lucky that my old gaffer [Ian Holloway] was there [on Tuesday with Swindon] and we had a real good chat before the game and that picked my spirit back up.”

Holloway was Ainsworth’s manager at QPR and he came and sat