Head Coach Stephen Clemence is looking for his Gillingham side to build on last Saturday’s win over Salford City when they head North to Tranmere Rovers this weekend, looking for back-to-back League Two wins for the first time in two months. 

The win over Salford leaves the Gills just a point outside the Play Off places and Clemence knows that a run of good results will easily propel his new side back towards the division’s summit. 

Reflecting on his first home League game in charge, Clemence said, “When I got the job and saw the first run of games and I knew Wrexham away would be tough and I knew that Salford at home would be tough too!”

“I do not live far from Salford and have been to see them play, I know people at the Football Club, and they are a very possession-based team.”

“We had a plan to try and get the ball off them which we struggled with at the start of the game. We tinkered with one or two things that thankfully helped us and then what I saw after the first twenty-five minutes, I was pleased with.”

“I did not enjoy the start of the game, but did think that that could happen at times in the game, and it could happen in future games at home where teams have more of the ball at the start of games.”

“We have got to realise that they are not hurting us and get behind the boys – we know when we get our turn, with what we are doing on the training ground and how the boys are feeling at the minute, we will hurt the opposition ourselves at some point.”

“Of course I would have liked to have started the game a little bit better…” 

“The reception the crowd gave me was really lovely, and I thank them all for that,” the Head Coach continued.

“It was really nice – when I came out at the start of the game, everyone was great and the reaction at the end was lovely, but the players are the ones who go over the white line, and they are the ones who do the work and to get a result like that, I want them to get all the credit.”

“I have been really pleased the weeks that I have been here in their attitude and the way they have tried to take things on board, and they deserved the result at the weekend, and they got the credit they deserved!” 

“I still haven’t seen enough of all of them – some would have liked to have played more – but I’m getting a feel of who they are as people and how they act around the building and the training ground,” Clemence said before adding, “I wouldn’t be afraid to use any of them from what I’ve seen – whoever we pick, I think will do a job and they will do it well!” 

Clemence comes up against Nigel Adkins at the weekend. Now in charge of his seventh Club in his managerial career, Clemence in relation is still very much a managerial rookie and is still looking to establish himself.

“When you first get into this environment and ask yourself what’s it like on the bench, you do remember it as a player, and unfortunately, I was a substitute on many occasions and so I know what it felt like.”

“But when you become a Coach, you do look to the right (or the left) and think “I don’t want to behave like that” or “he carries himself well” or whatever it is.”

“My focus now when I am on the bench and in the dugout is literally on my team. People will say to me “didn’t he play well” for the opposition and sometimes I have not noticed as you are that focused on your players being in the right slots and trying to help them!”

“It is a different feel being a number one from a number two!” 

With Lewis Walker and Oli Hawkins still not completely fit for the First Team squad, Clemence is hopeful that both Robbie McKenzie and Scott Malone will be fit to be considered for the trip North this weekend after missing Saturday’s win.

“It’s definitely good to have the choices,” Clemence admitted, “it’s not easy to have some conversations at times with players who may not be in the team, but as far as my position as Head Coach, I would much rather be having those conversations where there are decisions to make rather than being short of players!”