Gillingham will be heading to Southend on New Year’s Day no longer top of the league.

The Gills started the Christmas period sitting five points clear at the top of League 2 but defeat to Barnet and a postponed game against Northampton left the door open for Port Vale to capitalise.

Saturday’s game at Priestfield was postponed 24 hours earlier due to a waterlogged pitch but Gills visit fourth-placed Southend, who lost their first match in 15 games at the weekend, tomorrow (New Year’s Day).

The Gills will be aiming to improve on their last showing, where a poor first half laid the platform for a shock home defeat to Barnet. But rather than rant and rave, boss Martin Allen will be hoping to steer his team back on course.

He said: "You have to try and help them. We didn’t set out to be that yard slower. They don’t set out to do that when they leave the dressing room.

"You need to be firm, assertive and encouraging. Players don’t like coming off when they have just been booed. It hurts all of us and I don’t like it either."

Kick-off at Roots Hall is at 1pm and tickets are available on the gate.