Gillingham midfielder Stuart O'Keefe looks ahead to crucial showdown in fight against relegation in League 1

Gillingham captain Stuart O’Keefe believed that opponents enjoyed playing against them but it’s all changed now.

The Gills were 10 points adrift and spiralling towards League 2 before Neil Harris’ appointment gave them new belief. They head into the Easter weekend inside the relegation zone but only on goal difference.

Surviving relegation would be a some achievement, says the skipper, who made the trip to Cheltenham on Friday but missed out on playing because of injury.

“I think people liked playing us,” he said. “We were shipping goals for fun, we were pretty much an easy touch, we were a mess. I think to turn it around so quickly, with what is a relatively small squad, with the injuries we have had, it is a credit to everyone, credit to the club and the fans and the staff and especially the players, to dig ourselves out of it and get into this position.

“It has been a fantastic achievement but like the gaffer will keep reiterating, we haven’t done anything yet, there are still four massive games to play and plenty of points to play for, so we need to make sure we just keep approaching them like we have done.”

Gillingham start their Easter weekend at Cheltenham today (Friday) before hosting Fleetwood Town on Monday at Priestfield. Discounted tickets for that game are selling fast.

Keeping it tight at the back has given the Gills a platform to build from in their survival quest.

“That has been the biggest change,” O’Keefe said. “We were shipping too many goals, we weren’t scoring enough, the gaffer has changed that mentality, the difference now is that we are always going to be in a game.

"We are always in with a chance and I think that has been a slight change of mentality for other teams as well, they know that