Gillingham will be hoping an upturn in league form gives them a helping hand when they face Premier League opposition this weekend.
The Gills take a break from their League 2 campaign on Saturday when they welcome Sheffield United to Priestfield in the FA Cup Third Round.
While Gillingham have found some success in the league with back-to-back 1-0 victories post-Christmas, the Blades are finding life tough in the top tier, sitting bottom of the pile with just two wins all season.
A positive mindset could aid the Gills – and it’s one thing in their arsenal that might help spring a surprise in what is still a daunting task.
Assistant coach Robbie Stockdale spelt out the challenge they face.
“We are going to have to be at our absolute maximum and hope that have a bit of an off-day,” said the 44-year-old, who has previously worked in the top-flight at Sunderland.
“I know having worked in the Premier League that the levels are so high, ridiculous levels to be working at.
“They are a Premier League team with Premier League players so of course we are going to have to make it really uncomfortable for them.
“We are going to have to be aggressive in our duels and our challenges and, don’t forget, we can play a little bit as well and we will see what happens.
“Winning does give confidence. We have been fairly positive with them, no matter what the results. We see signs that things are coming together how we see it, but I would be foolish to say that winning doesn’t help to breed that confidence.
“I am really looking forward to it. The FA Cup does feel different, it’s almost like the shackles are off and it’s ‘come on boys, show us what you can do’.”
While the Blades are straight in at the Third Round stage, the Gills have seen off National North side Hereford in the First Round and then produced a shock with a well-earned 2-0 Second Round victory against League 1 Charlton.
Their weekend challenge will be a massive step up from that – regardless of their opposition’s league woes. The Blades – sadly without injured former Gills player John Egan – should still have enough to get home.
There should be a near-full house at Priestfield for the match, one that Stockdale couldn’t believe wasn’t picked for live national TV coverage.
He said: “It would be nice to have another league game coming up to try and make it three on the bounce, but the cup is brilliant isn’t it?
“I can’t believe we are not on TV, a League 2 team having a Premier League team coming to us. Some of the selections were strange, but we have got to make our own atmosphere and I know Priestfield will be absolutely rocking.
“I think we have a full house and you never know, but it will be a tough challenge. We are going to have to be at our best and that includes the supporters.”
The Gills head into the weekend now a point behind the play-off places. Defender Scott Malone scored winning goals in the last two games to see off Sutton last Friday and
Colchester on New Year’s Day, claiming 1-0 wins in both.
“We are work in progress,” said the coach.
“We are getting there, obviously with the games we have had we haven’t had a great deal of time on the training pitch, it is more about recovery and video work and analysis work.
“The players have really taken it on board and when we have been good, I think we have been very good.
“The one thing in football is that everyone wants success yesterday but we are quite level-headed.
“When we first came in we beat Salford by three goals and beat Charlton by two and it was there before these last couple.
“We try and block out as much noise as we can because in the building we know what work we are doing.
“We have to give credit to the supporters for (heading to Colchester) having spent a lot of money supporting the team, Christmas and New Year.
“To have that following was outstanding. It shows what a big club we can be, and hopefully they have seen that [the players] have given their all.
