GATESHEAD boss Gary Mills is hoping to make a couple of deadline-day additions despite having watched his side climb to third place in the Vanarama Conference table with a 2-1 win over Chester City at the weekend.

The sale of Marcus Maddison to Peterborough United has left a hole in the Gateshead squad, and Mills is determined to plug it ahead of this evening’s transfer deadline.

“To be honest, I’m looking right through the park – back, middle and top,” said the Heed boss. “I think there’s three positions I’m looking at because I think there’s three players who can improve us.

“There might be one before Monday night – I’m hoping there can be, but there’s nothing definite. If it doesn’t get done, we might have to wait until the loan window opens up again.”

Gateshead fell behind shortly before the half-hour mark on Saturday, with James Curtis and Ben Clark getting in each other’s way to enable Chester striker Craig Hobson to score.

The Tynesiders levelled when Jon Shaw netted from the spot after he had been fouled by Danny Harrison, and claimed all three points courtesy of an 80th-minute strike from former Darlington midfielder Jamie Chandler.

Gateshead: Bartlett; Jones, Curtis, Clark, O’Donnell; Oster (Ramshaw 52), Turnbull, Chandler, Wright (Guy 76); Shaw, Rodman (Baxter 90).