Gillingham return to MEMS Priestfield this Saturday for another early kick off against the high-flying magpies Notts County, with John Coleman still looking for his first win and first goal scored by a blue shirt… 

Last weekend and Tuesday saw the Gills take 1-1 draws from away trips to Tranmere Rovers and Grimsby Town respectively, with both home sides “scoring” for Coleman’s side.  

Gillingham go into the weekend still looking for that elusive first win of 2025 with County looking to cement their own top three place.

Speaking to KSN at this week’s briefing, Coleman said, “I went to see Notts County over the Christmas period – saw them play at Salford – and their results and performances have improved since then!”

“Whoever we play at home, we must make it more difficult for them than what they do for us and whilst you do your homework and are mindful of the opposition, you really have to focus on your own performances, especially at home and that is what we must do on Saturday.”

“Get our act together and try and score our “first” goal of our own and I’m relishing that!” Coleman admitted almost through gritted teeth! 

“I have watched a lot of games in League Two this year and I have to admit that I think that the standard isn’t as good as what it was,” the Gills boss went on, adding, “Having said that, I was only in League Two last year up till March after Accrington got relegated as the previous five (seasons) we were in League One – it’s difficult to judge it over a period of time.”

“There is a lot of goals being scored in League Two, as the strikers are good and they will keep punishing you – you have to be mindful of that, but you also have to be able to score yourself, and as a home fan, I want us to score, I want us to make chances to score goals, and as a manager that’s what I want us to do!” 

As the transfer window closes on Monday evening, and as the Gills have signed a new player the last two weeks, Coleman was asked about the possibility and joked, “That Friday feeling! Yes, we are ongoing and trying to sign players, and I am still hopeful to have a couple in by Monday – whether it’s going to be early enough for them to play against Notts County is another matter.”

“We’re looking at all over the pitch as players are still trying to impress – as I said when I came to the Club you always have people trying to get better than you, and that’s the nature of the beast as you always look to sign someone who is better than you already have and improve the squad window by window.”

“There’s no point adding if it doesn’t improve what you’ve already got – we have decent numbers and that includes the youth team.”

“Some people will also probably leave – we have a lot of players out of contract in the summer, so I think a few will have half a mind on that too, but we just have to try and get what we think are the best squad available to us to try and finish the season strong, wherever it takes us, it takes us! And then be in a position to prepare well for next season!” 

“I would like to get better players in and I think that we have got the makings of a good squad and hopefully we can keep reinforcing the way we want to play and there were big signs of that in the second half at Grimsby and hopefully we can carry that on into the weekend.” 

Squad wise for the weekend, at the time of our chat (Thursday lunchtime) and Coleman is hoping that JJ Morgan will be back after missing the Grimsby game, whilst Elliott Nevitt is still a doubt after missing Tuesday with a bruised foot.

Ethan Coleman and Aaron Rowe are being assessed – Rowe has been unwell whilst Coleman travelled to Tranmere on Saturday but his back strain had stiffened up en route to Merseyside. Meanwhile Conor Masterson is still a couple more weeks away from being fit to be considered for the matchday squad. 

We finished by asking Coleman if he would be relieved come Tuesday morning once the Window has closed on Monday evening. Coleman admitted, “If you’d have asked me that on the last seven windows couldn’t wait for it to shut as didn’t want to lose any players, but it’s probably different now!” 

“I think everybody is happy when all the fuss is over as I don’t know if it’s the exposure of football on TV now, but everyone wants to make it into a drama on the last day and rushing around at 10pm – and I’m sure we will be the same – but it’s not by design, as I’d sooner have my work done on Sunday afternoon!”

“But I think it will go right to the wire because other clubs force you down that path, not yourself, and you just have to play the game!”

“The last day can get stressful… my previous windows, I used to go and play golf the last day, turning my phone off, but I don’t think that will be the case this week!”