IN-FORM Tranmere Rovers make the long trip to Kent to take on Gillingham this Saturday with manager Nigel Adkins confident they can continue their unbeaten run after an enforced break. 

Rovers return to action this weekend after a short hiatus due to the postponed home match against AFC Wimbledon last weekend.  

Following a positive last away result against Carlisle United with a 2-1 win, Adkins' team is aiming to continue their climb up the league table and hoping for three points at the Priestfield Stadium.

"Spirits are high in the group which is important," said Adkins. "The break was disappointing in a way but it has allowed us to get some players back from injury and the lads have been training really well.

"You have to expect the unexpected and don't be a victim - we couldn't control the AFC Wimbledon game being called off but what we could control is what we did in the meantime.

"From our point of view we've utilised the time as best as we can and now the focus is on the game - we have a lot of Saturday / Tuesday games coming up so we need the squad to contribute so the starting 11 is strong and the impact we can get from the bench is strong."

Gillingham are unbeaten in their last 13 home league matches while Rovers have won just three of their last 18 away Football League games against the Gills, failing to score more than one goal in any of their last four such visits to the Priestfield Stadium.

"After I took over in November last year we did take some good points away from home but if we want to achieve what we to achieve this season winning away from home is important," said Adkins.

"We were unfortunate against Pot Vale when we drew and sometimes it's fine margins but it was a good win at Carlisle.

"We have a lot of away games coming up but maybe that will even itself out late in the season when we have a cluster of home games - we have to navigate though it and for me it's an opportunity to see of we can get something away from home against a team who were the league leaders."

Gillingham have enjoyed a solid start to the 2024/25 League Two season meaning they sit fourth in League Two heading into this weekend.

"It will be a tough game," said Adkins. "They have recruited well and invested well in the summer and they ae expecting to be right up there at the end of the season. 

"We know the challenge it will present but we will have a good following again and our lads will know they are in for a tough game and have to do well on set pieces, have a defensive resolve and maybe capitalise on some of the things we've seen in the opposition. 

"I think it will be a really close division this season - a lot of teams will beat each other over the year so maybe the points total will be a bit lower that it has been traditionally. 

"We have dealt with injuries at the start of the season and picked up points and you can see the camaraderie and the integration with the fans which is really important. 

"I think we are in a good place at the moment."

Omari Patrick scored twice in the win against Carlisle and Adkins added that he has been impressed with the striker's start to life at Prenton Park.

"He's been brilliant," added Adkins. "He came to us on trial and he has demonstrated his fitness and undoubted ability.

"I'd like to think the culture we have here is team-based and the environment is a learning-based environment and platers are allowed to express themselves.

"Omari is a player you'd pay to watch - let him have the ball and go and do something with that bit of flair and allow him to make mistakes. He's the creative one with that bit of flair and that bit of magic that you want to see on the ball. 

"We'll accept it if he gives the ball away and we have a team-based culture where you graft if you want to play for Tranmere Rovers and Omari grafts - he'll go and up and get back and defend and we trust him when we get the ball to do something with it."