Gills boss Stimson first took charge at the Priestfield in November 2007

Relegation-threatened Gillingham boss Mark Stimson is calling for his players to show some "bottle" if they are to avoid an instant return to League Two.

Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Carlisle was the Gills' 17th failure to win on the road in League One this season, leaving them just two points clear of trouble.

"The relegation issue will go to the wire," Stimson told BBC Radio Kent.

"There are six or seven clubs in the mix near the bottom and it's all about who has the bottle."

He added: "It's no good our players showing bottle on the training ground, they must do it in matches."

The Gills' last win 'on the road' was at Wembley back last May when they beat Shrewsbury Town 1-0 to win promotion back to League One.

We must do better up front. Our front three were way off what I expected Gillingham boss Mark Stimson

Gillingham can at least feel consoled by their home form, having lost just three times in the league at the Priestfield Stadium this season.

But of more concern to Stimson is the fact that they have scored just three times in nine games. And he admits that he has considered changing his frontline formation for Saturday's visit of high-flying Huddersfield Town.

"We've a week to prepare for Huddersfield," he added. "And I might change our format.

"Our defending in general at Carlisle was not bad but we must do better up front.

"Our front three were way off what I expected."

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