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The Shouting Men: Gillingham defender Ben Nugent writes exclusively for the KM Group

We're looking to finish the season strongly now, not on a whimper.

Last Saturday was disappointing because as a team and a squad we have set ourselves high standards. In the last five or six weeks we have dropped off a bit, which is frustrating.

Every team has a little bad spell, but ours has gone on longer than we would have liked. We just have to concentrate on these last two games and make sure we finish strongly.

Ben Nugent battles in midfield during Gillingham's draw with Oldham Athletic earlier this month Picture: Andy Payton
Ben Nugent battles in midfield during Gillingham's draw with Oldham Athletic earlier this month Picture: Andy Payton

We had a meeting on Monday, got some points across and a few people spoke. It was good to have that sort of chat.

We will go into this weekend’s game expecting Bristol Rovers to be bang on it, regardless of their position. We just have to pick ourselves up and get the win.

Mathematically we are not 100% safe. Obviously looking at the table I would rather be where we are than the teams below us. That one more win to secure it would be a good feeling.

I have battled against relegation before. It is tough, but it is good we have the characters in the dressing room and despite the form the spirit is good.

I have enjoyed the season, personally. I was playing catch-up but the lads have been brilliant.

The gaffer has come in and been positive. He is an honest man and he has the respect, which is a major thing.

For me, I am just going to concentrate on the next two games and then address my own situation at the end of the season.

I would like to stay but let’s get these two games played, get two good results and go from there.

Looking back at some of the teams we’ve played, the lad who was here previously, John Marquis, he was quite a handful down here playing for Doncaster.

Against players like that you don’t get a minute’s rest. You have to concentrate for 90 minutes, you can’t switch off.

I have been happy with my own performance this season, coming back from a knee operation in the summer. It's been a little stop-start but on the whole I have been happy and feel I have done myself some justice. When I first came in I didn’t have a pre-season, then I fractured my foot against Portsmouth, which was frustrating, but hopefully I can now get a good pre-season under my belt and kick on next summer.

Elsewhere, it’s good to see my former team Cardiff challenging for a promotion place in the Championship.

I have fond memories of the promotion season with Cardiff in 2013. Going up as champions, it was incredible experience.

I think they might do it again, not as champions, but to go up will be incredible. I will never forget it. I have a medal tucked away at home, I bring it out now and again and will probably get it framed one day.

Read the full column in this week's Medway Messenger.

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