Preview: Gillingham manager Mark Bonner looks ahead to their Boxing Day trip to Colchester United in League 2

Gillingham will need to find a way past a stubborn defence if they are to take anything from their Boxing Day trip into Essex.

Colchester are creeping up the table with a run of form built on a sound defence. The U’s have gone six games without conceding in all competitions. They’re also seven unbeaten in League 2.

Gills boss Mark Bonner is looking forward to the challenge.

“You're talking about 10 hours since they last conceded a goal (including injury time) - so that in itself tells its own story.

“Danny and Nicky (Cowley's) teams have always been really hard to beat, really hard to play against.

“It's a tight pitch there, smaller this year than last. I think it'll be a game for real patience and real individual quality and combinations to try and hurt them and to open them up.

“They have some really dangerous forward players in (Samson) Tovide and Lyle Taylor, good experience and craft in there. A bit of pace and power with Owura Edwards on one side, who's very tricky and then players like Ted Bishop and Jack Payne who can unlock a really clever pass. I think they're a nicely balanced side.

“They've recruited well over the summer and have got a good blend of youth and experience. Left footers, right footers, dribblers and passers, soldiers and artists. They've got a little bit of everything in the team. A very good restart and set-play team.

“A lot of their games have been fairly low scoring, so we have to try and make sure that we are defensively at our best to limit them because they've got some good threats.

“We'll have to work really hard and play really well to make sure we're a creative team against them. They give very little up in the games that they've played, not just the ones that they've kept the clean