Peter Taylor: Gillingham in League One relegation scrap

Gillingham interim manager Peter Taylor says the side will need to show fighting spirit to survive relegation.

The Kent club are currently 17th in the League One table, two points above the drop zone.

"We are in a relegation scrap at the minute, let's be honest about it," he told BBC Radio Kent.

"The division is a very tough division. There are some outstanding teams that you need to fight hard against to nick results."

The Gills beat Carlisle 1-0 on Saturday thanks to a second-half Danny Kedwell penalty to record their second win in four matches since Taylor took interim charge last month.

However, the 60-year-old was left largely unimpressed with the team's showing in the first 45 minutes against the Cumbrians.

"I thought our first half performance was very, very poor," he said.

"It shocked me as it was nothing like what I was expecting.

"The booing we got at half-time, I said to the players if I had been in the crowd, paying money to watch you, I'd have been booing the loudest.

"It was something that, to me, is not acceptable in the position we are in."

Taylor, who says a permanent manager will be appointed at Priestfield prior to the trip to Sheffield United on 16 November, said his players must be willing to give their all in order to pick up results.

"We grafted away in the second half - we kept going," he commented.

"Thankfully we got the penalty and then the players dug in to get a result.

"We need fighting performances like we had in the second half. That's what the crowd appreciates.

"We will have matches like this until the end of the season. That is how tough the division is."