Gillingham Manager Mark Stimson believes his side can handle the pressure when they take on Leeds United at Elland Road on Saturday.

The Gills drew their final home League One game with Swindon and Stimson was disappointed not to win but can take positives from the game: "It was very disappointing not to win on Saturday because I thought we deserved to win.  The boys played really well, we looked solid at the back and there was good movement in the middle of the park.  We created one or two chances but unfortunately we didn't take them.  When you are only 1-0 up in a game, something can always happen that doesn't justify the performance.  That is what happened as Swindon nicked a goal late on.  The boys came off frustrated and disappointed but luckily enough for us, the results went our way so it now gives us a chance this Saturday to go to Leeds, get a win and hopefully survive.

"The positives we can take from the Swindon game are that we have looked a proper team and the shape has looked good.  We have got a good mixture of experience and youth.  We are creating chances and at the moment, we just seem to be unable to get that second goal to make a better cushion so we can go on and enjoy the last 15 minutes of games.  If you look at why we have conceded late goals, being honest, the goals at Millwall and Bristol Rovers were wonder strikes from centre-halves who probably haven't scored goals like that in their careers.  The one against Swindon, it was a corner, maybe we could've won the first ball.  Our player competed and it dropped to one of theirs rather than one of ours.  It is that rub of the green that you need.  We had a great shout for a penalty in the first-half but we didn't get it.  We have to keep building on what we are doing and if we get a chance at Leeds to get a second goal, we have got to take it.  Whoever it is, they need to have belief that they are going to score when they get in the box and hopefully we won't bump into a goalkeeper who is on form, which always helps.  We have got to do it this week as this is a must-win game."



Leeds are the opponents for the final game of the season and Stimson expects a tough match at Elland Road against the Play Off contenders: "Leeds have got 20-odd good players and they could pick two decent teams.  It has shown in their results this year.  They went on a fantastic run under Dennis Wise.  Gary McAllister has come in and bought some new players and has added quality to the squad.  We are expecting a tough game but we are confident as we have got players who will perform in this situation.  We have got some good experience with Danny Cullip, Kevin Maher and Nicky Southall who have all been around these types of games.  We then have that little bit of youth who have got the legs to carry the older ones through it.

"Simon Royce is out with an ankle injury and Barry Fuller has got a couple of broken fingers.  The injury with Royce has been frustrating as he is a top class goalkeeper.  He deservedly picked up the award for Player of the Year on Saturday.  You'd like to have a player like Simon Royce for Saturday but Derek Stillie hasn't done badly this year.  He is experienced and has played in some big games so this shouldn't faze him.  Adam Miller has trained this week and has looked quite bright so he will come into the squad.  We'll pick a team with a gameplan to go win a football match on Saturday as that is what we so desperately want to do."



With the season ending on Saturday, Stimson explains that contract discussion and the arranging of pre-season friendlies will commence in the coming weeks: "There are a few players out of contract at the end of the season and I have got individual meetings with all the players on Tuesday.  They will all be told their situation.  The future with some of the youngsters looks very bright.  There are a couple of young ones that I have brought to the club, like Garry Richards and Stuart Lewis, who are only 21.  They need a bit of experience alongside them as well.  Things are bright but we so desperately want to stay in this division so it makes things brighter.

"I'm not looking too far ahead.  There is one striker that I have spoken to the Chairman about.  He is available as I found out that he turned down a contract at his current club, who are in League One, and I am surprised about that.  I'd like to bring him to the club and he is the only name that I have mentioned to the Chairman.  Anyone else will be spoken about after this weekend.

"We're lining up six or seven pre-season friendlies.  We'll announce them once they are finalised.  It has been hectic recently but we are focusing on the trip to Leeds.  We've had some phone calls from teams who want to play us so once the dates are picked, we'll let everyone know.  They'll also be a few friendlies for the youth team that will contain squad players.  I like to have a few friendlies as I think that is how the players get sharp; by playing football matches.  The first three games, everyone will play 45 minutes each to show me how sharp and how good they are.  Whatever division we are in, it is a new start for everybody and that means the young apprentices at 16 years old, if they are good enough in pre-season, they will play.  We'll try and get everyone involved in the two week training period before the first pre-season game.  We'll then go with a 22 man squad to games and have two teams of 11, one team playing the first half and the other playing the second half.  Whoever performs the best out of the first three games, they'll have the shirt come the fourth game as that is when we are getting near to the start of the league campaign.

"It is all about people performing and I am someone who believes that players should go away in the close-season, work on their weaknesses and not think they are guaranteed a shirt for the following season.  They should work hard for the shirt and it opens it up to every player at the club.  It happened to me when I was a player.  I went away for close-season and I knew no matter how hard I worked, I wasn't going to play in the league games come the start of the season.  That can be disappointing and frustrating but you have to open it up to everybody and give them a chance."