Gillingham boss Steve Evans is keen to sign more strikers in January but has to make do with what he's got for now.

Evans’ men head to Rochdale this weekend looking to put back to back defeats behind them. They are set to be without forwards Dominic Samuel and Jordan Graham.

Even before Samuel’s injury on Tuesday night the Gills boss said he was looking at bringing in extra fire power.

Speaking about the loss of Samuel, he said: “We know what we are doing, there are strikers coming in anyway.

“We have not got enough in key areas of the pitch, we are already working on those things.”

Gillingham missed several chances against Accrington on Tuesday, failing to test the visiting keeper enough when they created an opening, forcing him to make just the one meaningful save.

“We had good chances to equalise with Oliver and Akinde, your two strikers,” said the Gills manager.

“It became very difficult (after conceding the second goal) because they were very resolute.”

The Gills are now looking to get back on track after back to back defeats, heading to a ground where they haven’t won since May 2009. The 2-0 loss to Accrington followed a 2-1 defeat by Doncaster Rovers last weekend.

In the last decade the Gills have had a fair few forgettable trips to Spotland, home of Rochdale, but Steve Evans’ squad of 19/20 came away with a point after a 2-2 draw.

Rochdale are four points behind their weekend visitors in the League 1 table as things stand but their midweek was a lot better than Gillingham’s. While Evans’ men lost at home, Dale thumped Wigan 5-0 at the DW Stadium.

“They are all tough,” said Evans when asked about their final game before Christmas.

“We had a chance to win (on Tuesday) and go within three or four points of the play-off and it just shows you what can happen when you win three or four games, we are capable of doing that.

“We always thought we would need to be within five or six points at Christmas and that remains the same. We are looking at the table and I have no time for managers who say they don’t look at tables, all they are doing is telling lies.”

Evans expects Jordan Graham and Dominic Samuel to miss the festive period and Trae Coyle could be out too.

Alex MacDonald spoke to the press on Thursday and says the camp remains upbeat. The two defeats follow a run of five without loss in League 1.

He said: "We know what it takes. We have got the right characters and the right mentality to do it.

"We have got the right manager to make sure we are working hard. We have got the experience and we have done it before this season. We’ll work hard and put it all right.

“If we can keep ourselves within touching distance of those play-offs, and we have seen it before with a run of five or six games, we just need to try and put on a longer run of results and performances which will allow things to happen.

“There is always someone there who will come out of the pack and surprise a few people. Hopefully we can put a run on at the right time.

"It will be a tough game Saturday, but we are a wounded animal after two defeats, there is a real grit and determination and morale is good, despite the defeats. It is a camp that is happy and desperate to do well.”

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