Relegation scrappers Northampton Town have beaten Gillingham once this season and manager Steve Evans is determined to ensure that doesn’t happen again.

Gillingham’s performance at Northampton in December was labelled as “disturbing” by Evans as they went down 3-1 to a side who were already struggling at the bottom of League 1.

Northampton haven’t managed to pull clear of the relegation battle but the Gills are much changed, thanks to a flurry of activity in the January transfer window and an upturn in results. Evans’ men go into Saturday’s game still with an outside chance of a play-off place.

Northampton’s 3-0 win over Ipswich Town on Tuesday night is another reminder that the weekend opponents can’t be taken lightly.

“We have to be at our best on Saturday,” Evans said.

“We are going to need another big performance because Northampton Town are fighting for their lives.

“We are trying to hang onto the shirt tails (of the play-off teams) to take it to next Saturday at Burton. We are trying to keep in the mix.

“The players know what Northampton are about, they gave us a proper game earlier in the season and their players aren’t far changed.

“I watched them last Friday (at Peterborough) and they were very good. They beat Ipswich 3-0 and my players will be under no misconceptions that this is a real tough game. They are a football club that shouldn’t be fighting for survival in league 1 but they are.”

Many of the teams fighting relegation had wins in midweek, while those pushing at the top end slipped up.

Northampton’s win at Ipswich was matched by those around them which means they head to Priestfield under serious threat of relegation.

Evans said: “Northampton know if they win they won’t be away from it. On Tuesday night, as everyone could see, Swindon got a result, Rochdale got a result and so did Wimbledon.

“You look at the top and it has been a bit indifferent, arguably there is tremendous pressure on Grant McCann and the Hull boys and Darren (Ferguson) at Peterborough and Lincoln, Sunderland and Blackpool, because there is huge resources. What comes with that is the pressure to deal with it and win games.

“It will be interesting to see who deals with it in the next two or three weeks.”

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