Blackpool boss braced for another tough test

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The Seasiders head to Kent brimming with confidence having won their previous three games on the spin.

The Gills currently sit 16th in the League One table and have won just one of their last 11 games, but Bowyer believes they have enough to remain in the division for next season.

“With the points tally they’ve got I think they will be fine, but you just never know,” he said.

“With the way they went about it against Rotherham on Tuesday night, we know it’s going to be very difficult.

“We’ve got to match everything that they’ve got and produce more out of ourselves.

“But we’re going into the game absolutely flying and on such a high of confidence.

“These are the games now where people really look at you individually and collectively to see how you finish the season.”

The Seasiders drew 1-1 with Gillingham at Bloomfield Road back in November, a game they ought to have won only to be denied all three points after conceding a last-minute goal.

But back then the Gills were enjoying a fine run of form under Steve Lovell, who took them out of the relegation zone and into mid-table.

“Steve has done an unbelievable job there,” Bowyer added. “The way he’s gone about it has been fantastic.

“I’ve just seen they’ve rewarded him with a brand new two-year contract, that just shows you how valued he is there.

“I think he’s been brilliant because his team is a hard-working one, they’re aggressive and competitive and we’re going to have to match that.

“We should have won when they came down here earlier in the season but that was an example of what Steve has done with Gillingham – they go to the end.

“They scored in the last minute, which was a poor goal from our point of view, but then we tried our best to lose the game because we presented them with another opportunity.”