Stephen Clemence is focusing on the positives from Gillingham’s 1-0 loss to Newport County on Saturday.
Will Evans’ 23rd goal of the season was enough to win the game as once again, Clemence watched on as his side failed to convert any of the numerous chances they made, indeed Evans’ strike now means that the Gills as a team have only scored eight more than the Welsh striker.
“I never felt in trouble. I thought it had 0-0 written all over it,” he said. “But, to be fair to the lad, it’s a great finish.”
“The boy delivered a sidewinder volley from the edge of the box, and it went in the top corner. If you get beaten by a goal like that, sometimes you just have to accept it.”
“We had a moment ourselves where Timothee Dieng had a great effort, and their keeper made a great save.”
“It was a very tight game between two teams with similar shapes,” added Clemence. “They’ve been in good form, and we knew we’d have to be up for the fight.”
“They’re a very physical team and I thought we dealt with that well.”
“But we just had one moment in the second half where they got the better of us and, unfortunately, we have to go home with no points.”
“It’s very difficult to take, but we’ve got two home games coming up now and we have to get ready for them.”
With high flying Stockport County coming to Priestfield on Tuesday night, Clemence will then have one eye on the weekend as showbix Wrexham come to Kent for what is expected to be a sell out.
Both games will be a stern test for a Gillingham side that have slipped back down the League Two table and must pick up points in these next two games or could find themselves losing touch with the top seven.
Meanwhile young Colombian forward Jorge Hurtado has returned to Watford for assessment and treatment after picking up a knee injury only three games into his loan spell with Gillingham.
The 20-year-old moved to the League Two side at the end of the January transfer window, and had already made a positive impression with the club’s fans during three substitute appearances.
However, it was after the most recent of those three – a 2-2 draw with Swindon Town last Tuesday – that the injury came to light.
He was on the receiving end of a couple of robust challenges, including one which won the Gills a penalty, and scans have shown cartilage damage in his knee.
Hurtado has consequently returned to the Hornets, whose medical team will decide what steps to take.
Gillingham head coach Stephen Clemence said: “It is very disappointing for everybody, both inside the club, and for the supporters as well. His knee swelled up after the game, he took some big whacks in the last game and it looks like he has some cartilage damage.”
“We are waiting to see if he needs surgery or not. I don’t know how long it will be, he has to see a specialist.”
“Watford are in charge of that now and he was scanned on Thursday. The report has been sent to them and us and something is going on there, I don’t think it is anything too serious, but the parent club will decide what needs doing next and we are in their hands now.”
“It is really disappointing because we could all see the talent that we had at the club.”
“We still hope to have him back and hopefully it’s not too serious and with some rest maybe he can get back quicker, but I haven’t got my hopes up.”
“Everybody will be disappointed, we all are as staff and the players are too because he has become a really likeable lad around the place even though he doesn’t speak much English, he always has a smile on his face.”
“He can do things that other players can’t do at times, that South American movement, snake hips. It is a blow for us, but when that happens it is an opportunity for someone else isn’t it?”