Ex-Peterborough United manager full of love and respect for his old club, but he wants to beat them badly

The Gills overcame Charlton at The Valley on Saturday and now tackle a Posh side who are level on points with second placed Hull City in the standings.

Victory at the weekend was a first for the Gills against a top-six side this season (Charlton have now dropped to eighth) and Evans is hoping for another good result tonight against the club who sacke him when sitting in a play-off place two years ago.

“These are top teams,” Evans told Kent Online. “I have watched Peterborough twice in the last few days (seeing them beat Crewe and Ipswich at London Road). They are a decent side and they will be a big threat at Priestfield.

“We know for us to beat Peterborough would take a monumental effort, but we will have a game plan. We had a game plan against Charlton and we will have one for Peterborough.

“But we don’t kid ourselves. Peterborough are a powerful club with big resources for League One.”

Evans, whose home is on the outskirts of Peterborough, holds no grudges and is full of praise for the financial backing the Peterborough board give their managers.

Evans said: “Darren Ferguson has had every resource possible given to him by the chairman, but so did I,

“They are a fantastic club with fantastic resources. They make it happen when you want a player and they did with me.

“I don’t hide it, they are a terrific club and have absolutely phenomenal owners, the chairman Darragh (MacAnthony), Randy (Thompson) and Jason (Neale). They are great people and they gave me an opportunity with my hometown club.

“When I am finished with football I will be down at London Road supporting Peterborough United, that is in my heart, but do I want to beat them on Tuesday? Of course I do.

“It is an opportunity for us to get back-to-back wins which would be really good.”

Gillingham pair Jordan Graham and Callum Slattery remain injury doubts tonight.

Joint top-scorer Graham picked up a deadleg in the recent match against Lincoln City at Priestfield while Callum Slattery tweaked his groin. Both missed the weekend win at Charlton.

“We have the smallest squad in the league but whether it’s two, three or four on the bench, it is what we have,” Evans added.

Posh would go second with a win tonight. They would be one point behind leaders Lincoln City. Siriki Dembele should be back in the Posh squad after missing their last game, a 2-1 home win over Ipswich.