“It’s all the basics that we’re getting wrong!” That’s the honest views of Gillingham’s Player of the Year Mark Byrne.

He spoke to the press this week as the club slipped to within three places off the foot of SKYBET League One.

“It’s not the Gaffer’s fault – it’s been the game management of the boys on the pitch where lots of goals have gone through.”

“It’s been sloppy mistakes, one after another, whereas last year someone made a mistake, they had someone behind them. This year one or two in a row have cost us too much!”

“We’re on a bad run, we know that, but we can’t dwell on it,” Byrne went on.

“We have to be confident and there’s no reason why we can’t be going into the weekend – we went there last year and got a great result, so why can’t we do it again. At the end of the day, all the pressure will probably be on them as they think that they should be steamrolling all over us.”

“We need a lucky goal or some decisions to go our way is the sort of thing that we need to get going again, and once we get that, the confidence within the team will build again. We’re still scoring goals, but conceding sloppy goals – roll on that bit of luck which will hopefully kick-start us going up the League.”

“The League this year is totally different to last year – Shrewsbury are a prime example; top of the League last year flying!  Different teams every year – you’ve just got to take it game by game as you really can’t say still who’s going to challenge.”

“Look at Walsall – they’ve had great start after many said that they would struggle. You can expect the “bigger” teams to be up there, but there are some teams that you don’t expect as well…”

Twelve months ago, the Gills won 3-1 at Fratton Park – it couldn’t happen again… could it?

Byrne grinned and said, “The boys have spoken about the game last year and have said why can’t we do the same this year – go there and get a win.”

“I know they’re top of the League and are unbeaten, but it’s a great chance for us to go and turn our season around.”

“Yes, we’re going through a sticky patch at the moment, but I can’t see why we can’t go to the side top of the League and get a win to give us massive confidence!”