Gillingham manager Andy Hessenthaler is demanding his players give everything in pursuit of ending their own run of poor results.

Hessenthaler said: “We’ll be much better and stronger this week and we go to Oxford, two points behind them, and we can go above them if we win. Let’s hope that can happen.

“It’s going to take hard work and the harder you work, the more joy you’ll get. If you just sit on what you are doing, you aren’t going to get anywhere.

“We’ve had games where we’ve deserved better and some games we just haven’t been good enough.

“What we have to do is get the balance right and do it week in, week out. If we do that then the results will come.”

The Gillingham manager had been hunting for defensive cover, after being left short last week, but Matt Lawrence is set to return.

Hessenthaler, who had 13 players missing last weekend, is hopeful that with long-term casualties former Oxford United youngster Simon King, Andy Barcham and Garry Richards getting closer to a return, he won’t need to sign any new players.

“We’ve been looking at players, but Matt Lawrence will be fit for the weekend. I don’t think I will bring someone in.”