By Luke Cawdell

Mark Stimson admits Gillingham’s inability to win away from home is getting on his nerves.

Gills have picked up just two points from a possible 39 in their opening 13 away matches and manager Stimson, pictured, knows it’s not good enough as they fight to avoid being sucked into the relegation battle.

After defeat in Swindon, which left Gills 19th in League 1, he said: "We need to get an away win. We’re talking about it all the time. It’s getting on my nerves and the players’ nerves.

"We just have to go and do it and how we do it, I don’t care. The only way we are going to do it is by defending properly from set-pieces, getting a bit of luck and hopefully one or two players coming back will help us."

He added: "There are a lot of teams down there like ourselves who are not firing on all cylinders.

"But I don’t think there are many down there with as many casualties as us. You do look at it and it’s not excuses – you have to get on with it – but again we had five first teamers not playing, and big players for us.

"An experienced goalkeeper (Simon Royce), one who would be the best centre-half again (Simon King), the other centre-half who did really well for us last year (Garry Richards) and another centre midfielder (Danny Jackman). He’s played at this level and knows what it is about, and (Andy) Barcham on the wing who can create something out of nothing."