Gills boss Coleman admits he does not know best side

John Coleman joined Gillingham in January on a deal until the end of the season

Gillingham boss John Coleman admits he does not know his best side nor his preferred formation.

The 62-year-old was appointed Gills boss on 5 January following the sacking of Mark Bonner but has failed to claim victory in any of his first seven league matches as part of the club's 11-game winless run.

"No, bluntly no," Coleman told BBC Radio Kent when quizzed if he knew his favoured XI.

"The minute you say this is the way we're going to play, you get a bit predictable."

On Saturday, Coleman takes his side to League Two bottom club Carlisle United, now coached by Mark Hughes, who are desperate for the points themselves after four defeats in their last five games.

"It might be a bit of cat and mouse, but it has to be high tempo," Coleman added.

"We've got three or four options that we can go with on Saturday.

"One of them is how we played on Saturday [in the goalless draw with Crewe Alexandra], but the other three are equally exciting to me and we'll go with what we think is right to exploit the openings that Carlisle could allow us."