Stimson took his side back into League One with promotion last season

Gillingham manager Mark Stimson insists his goal of survival in League One has not changed despite his side's promising start to the season.

Stimson's newly promoted side find themselves ninth in the table as they prepare to face Norwich on Saturday.

"My target from the first game of the season, and we're only eight games into it, has not changed," Stimson told BBC Radio Kent.

"I'd take 20th now, as it means we'd stay up and I'm happy with that."

Stimson added: "If we can stay at this level by the end of the season then I think that will be a good achievement."

I think we'll surprise a few people this season, and I think we have done already - especially at home Mark Stimson

The Gills have had mixed results against League One's biggest sides so far - beating Millwall, but losing heavily to Leeds United. Nonetheless Stimson says he is relishing such matches.

"It's exciting times - it's the buzz," he said.

"I can't wait for these games to come round because we're playing against some real top sides.

"Like I said at the beginning of the season, I think we'll surprise a few people this season, and I think we have done already - especially at home.

"And when we get Stuart Lewis and Simon King that'll make us even stronger and it will be even more exciting then."

"We've got a decent squad. But we need to, if we could, improve it in certain areas."

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