Gillingham are becoming the draw specialists in League Two and go into the weekend home game with MK Dons looking to give boss Gareth Ainsworth his first win in charge.
In what will be the first weekend game where he has managed the home side at MEMS Priestfield on a Saturday afternoon, Ainsworth is looking forward to hopefully a first victory in charge.
Talking to KSN this week at the Press briefing, the Gills boss told us, “After the long trips we have had, we have a home game now against MK Dons. It’s going to be great for a Saturday afternoon, my first Saturday afternoon as Gillingham’s manager at home!”
“Really looking forward to it, hopefully we can put on a performance for the fans that they will appreciate like we did against Colchester, but you never know!”
“I said the other day that it’s not always going to be brilliant, rosy and positive, we will have moments when we are going to have to learn but we will be going to try to win the game on Saturday.”
“I’ve just realised that I haven’t had a “normal” week yet since I’ve been here! The boys have done really well dealing with the changes because we haven’t had time to do very much on the training field – we have done bits – I pride myself on the organisation and them feeling it on the grass.”
“It was a great point away at Chesterfield on Tuesday because they are a very good side! I look at them and think that they could probably compete in the League above.”
“Some of the names they have, some of the players that they have – it’s a good set! I think injuries this season have really hurt their chances of being where they should be.”
“I was talking to Paul Cook (Chesterfield boss) after the game and he was paying full respect to us as they had to change their formation for us and then they had so many attackers on the field at the end I think is testament to the boys and how they did.”
“First half we really took it to them with some great chances and in the second half we could have added to that! I am really pleased with the boys, they are a good group, and it isn’t just the boys that extends to… it’s all the support staff too.”
“I just spoke to the lady in the dining room, Heidi, and told her that she helps us get the points on a Saturday as well. Everyone at the Club is buying into this new way we are trying to work, and I’m really pleased!”
“After so many long trips so soon, I must give credit to the boys, we’ve chopped and changed a little bit in the squad! We’ve had three long away trips – overnights – in ten days too really close together, but the boys have adapted really well! I stopped everything before training on Thursday and told them all well done as they have adapted really well!”
“I will say that I think the results next season will be more important than the ones now where I am changing things and trying to get processes in place that people aren’t used to so I can accept mistakes, but I am a football manager and I want to win games – I want to win at anything that I ever do as I am one of the most competitive people I have ever met.”
“We will still do it right, get the processes put in place and I think it was great that the club was prepared to get us in before the end of the season. I think it was a great plan allowing us to look at the squad and find things out, they came for us strong, they came from us hard and I thought the plan is there for next season and the season after, and this is a “sneak-preview” which not a lot of managers get and it’s pre-season and here you go.”
“You need two or three weeks to get to know people and I am getting that chance now!”
Looking at his squad for the weekend, Ainsworth confirmed that the squad would be similar to the one that faced Chesterfield on Tuesday. Josh Andrews is close to a return and may feature over Easter, whilst Ethan Coleman’s season may not yet be over, and he may feature before the end.
Image courtesy of Gillingham FC