“If I had travelled six hours and paid hard earned money earned all week to my team just boot the ball forward with no passion, no fight, no drive, no desire, I would be absolutely livid! I’m livid for the lack of responsibility that they have shown the fans today – it’s an absolute disgrace”
Manager John Coleman’s damning assessment of Gillingham’s 3-0 defeat at Barrow which now leaves the Gills nineteenth in League Two all be it a nervous nine points above the drop line – the end of August when the Gills topped League Two with ten points from the opening four games seems a distant memory, but highlights that in League fixtures since the end of August in the 24 games played, just 22 points have been won!
This really was a day to forget for the 227 who made the trip from Kent as Barrow bossed the game as the Gills never looked like snapping their winless run that now stands at nine and those back-to-back wins over Salford and MK Dons in December seem a very long time ago!
In a blank tough first half, it was clear that both sides appreciated it was a game neither dared lose. Both sides had loud penalty appeals waved away – Shad Ogie appeared to be impeded in the home box but the referee wasn’t interested and when Dan Campbell went down under a Robbie McKenzie challenge, he was booked for simulation.
Just before the hour came the games first real chance but Glenn Morris made a terrific save to keep out Aaron Pressley’s header from an Elliott Newby cross. The chance seemed to spur the home side and just after the hour, Morris just could nothing to keep out Kian Spences looping volley and the Gills were behind again.
The Gills were indebted to Morris moments later – how many times have we said that this season – as the keeper did really well to tip over an effort from MJ Williams, but there was to be no response from the Gills despite the manager making changes.
Instead, it was the home side who went onto win the game comfortably and move above the Gills in the table. Spence doubled the lead with five minutes left converting Ben Jackson’s cross and by the time that Tyler Smith netted the third deep in stoppage time, I wonder how many of the 227 had already left for Kent.
Final word, whilst remembering the Gills are back in action on Tuesday, and things don’t get any easier as they travel to leaders Walsall, goes to manager Coleman – “I’ve been managing for nearly twenty0five years and that is right up there with one of the worst feelings I’ve had as a manager, and also one of the worst performances I’ve seen from any of my teams and a lack of fight and lack of desire… Everything is laid on a plate for these players and when they put in a performance like that, it makes me sick… I see players who just don’t care… I’ve put out teams that would run through a brick wall, but that’s not a team that would run through a cardboard wall!”
Walsall awaits…
BARROW – Farman, Foley, Canavan, Jackson, Spence (Worrall), Williams, Campbell, Newby, Gotts, Whitfield (Smith), Pressley (Acquah)
Subs – Stanway, Cameron, Mahoney
GILLINGHAM – Morris, Smith, Ehmer, Gale, Ogie (Hutton), McKenzie, Little (Morgan), Dack (Corness), Agbinone (Nolan), Nevitt (Khumbeni), Gbode
Subs – Turner, Clark
REFEREE – Mr. Joyce
Image courtesy of Gillingham FC