GILLINGHAM boss Steve Lovell must think this management lark is easy.

The Kent side have lost just four times since the Welshman stepped up from a coaching role to succeed Peter Taylor in October.

At the time, Gillingham had won only one of their opening 12 games and were bottom of League One.

Now they are within a point of City in a healthy mid-table spot with just two losses in 15.

It makes for a comparatively easy life for Lovell who will bring a very settled side to Valley Parade.

He said: “I have quite a bit of competition in different areas, which is nice. But if people do their job with the team I put out, that makes it easy for me doesn’t it?

“If you come in and perform and we get results, then you stay in. That is the only way to be.

“Then you have no worries about people knocking on your door, because it’s the truth.”

What a contrast from the start of the season when the Gills, having flirted with relegation last year, appeared to be nailed on for the drop.

But former Gills striker Lovell stepped up in caretaker charge when Taylor left and immediately righted the ship with four wins in seven games.

That earned him a deal until the end of the season and he has continued to make forward progress to the point where his team harbour an outside shot at the play-offs.

With last week’s home game against Blackburn frozen off, this will be Gillingham’s fourth successive road trip.

But they come north in high spirits after coming from behind to beat Portsmouth 3-1 last time out, their first win at Fratton Park since 1912.

Gillingham did arrange a closed-doors game with Luton during the week to give some of those on the fringe a run-out.

Lovell said: “It is nice to have those players who are not in the team and know that they could do a job for you.”