Video: Nigel Adkins says performance against Gillingham a sign of things to come in the future

United were by far the better of the two teams, but couldn't the goal that their dominance deserved.

And Adkins believes that with performances improving, the signs are there for a good finish to the campaign and a look towards next year's challenge.

"I thought we played well, especially in the second half, we created plenty of opportunities," he said. "It was exciting, I think when you look at the reaction of the supporters at the end, there was an appreciation of the effort that the players have gone and put in. They worked extremely hard and hopefully that's a sign of things to come in the future.

"I appreciate the way the supporters have reacted to players on the pitch but likewise I appreciate the way the players have gone and worked on the pitch.

"We played some really good football and on another day we could have quite easily won it by several goals. The fact of the matter is, we've only gone and got a clean sheet, we've only got the one point and obviously where we are at this moment in time, we are out of the play-off position, our endevour is to get the three points to keep us in thyere. However we can be buoyed going forward by the performance and the reaction of everybody, not just for this season but for next season and beyond."

He added: "We needed the three points, we can;t hide away from that. There was a lot of endevour out there, we could have quite easily got it, but the fact of the matter is it's 0-0. We take the point and then what we do is move forward to the next game. We've just got to look at the next game and what a game that is...Chesterfield away, a local derby. It's exciting."

Unsurprisingly, Adkins remains positive about how the season can finish for United, though he admitted that he knows people can get frustrated by that persistent attitude, despite what has been a rollercoaster of a season.

"You've got to believe you can (get into the top six)," he said. "We needed to win today's game, we haven't, but we've picked up a point. We've had a good performance and importantly that's been appreciated by the supporters as well.

"We have just got to keep being positive. Everybody knows what I'm like, maybe people get a bit frustrated with that but that's what I am and I think I've been pretty consistent in where I've been."