Midfielder Callum Reilly believes an FA Cup upset is possible this weekend.

An improved performance on New Year’s Day at Southend, albeit without any points to show for it, will have given Gillingham confidence ahead of the visit of Premier League Cardiff in the third round on Saturday.

Reilly said: “Everyone was disappointed we lost the game, considering we felt like we were the better team.

“We were disappointed once again with the goals we conceded and we are disappointed we didn‘t put the chances away. On another day we put a couple of those chances away at least.

“But I thought there were some really good performances out there and a lot of promise. Hopefully that is something we can take into games going forward.

“We have to take the positives into the big game on Saturday, which we are all looking forward to. It might be a refreshing break for us and we can hopefully enjoy the occasion as an underdog and turn them over, which would be fantastic for everyone involved.

“I was really excited by the draw and it’s going to be a big day. Hopefully we can have a big turnout. It will be hard but brilliant if we can turn them over, you never know.

“After that we would be one step further and (could) get a big, big team which would be amazing.

“You need to be at your best and for them to have a slight off-day.We can only force that through hard work and making sure we are on our game. Hopefully with the crowd behind us we can get something going.”

Read more from Callum in this Thursday's Medway Messenger newspaper