In form Bradford City come to MEMS Priestfield this weekend and on-loan Gillingham defender, Andy Smith, knows just how tough it’s going to be for the Gills to record back-to back home wins for just the third time this season. 

“It will be a tough game on Saturday,” Smith told KSN at this week’s briefing. “We know that they are on a good run of form and it’s going to take everything to get a result, but we have worked hard in training to get ready for the game – work hard, a bit of graft and at the end of the day, I think that we are going to have a good chance!” 

“Tuesday was obviously disappointing – you never want to lose a game especially in the way we did in the first half going three goals down… it was really disappointing. But that’s the beauty of football as we have no time to dwell on it and we are ready to go again on Saturday and hopefully we will be able to put things right!” 

Talking about his arrival at Priestfield after his loan move from Hull City, Smith admitted that having a couple of familiar faces in the Gillingham dressing room in Robbie McKenzie and Max Clark, has helped him settle in.

“It’s been massive,” the young defender admitted. “They have been great with me from day one, as have all the players – I think I have settled in really well. They are a great group of lads, and we are all pulling in the right direction.”

“I’ve really enjoyed it and the most pleasing thing is to come here and get game time! Thats what I was looking for when I knew that I would be available in this last transfer window to go out on loan.”

“I wanted to get back out and playing after loans at Grimsby and Cheltenham, and I have really enjoyed being back out there as you really cannot beat the feeling of playing on a matchday.” 

“It’s strange how that there seems to be a connection between Hull and Gillingham,” Smith conceded. “Max and Robbie spoke highly of the Club when I did my research into the potential move in January and hopefully things will continue where I keep playing my football and enjoying it really.”

“Moving anywhere for the first time takes some getting used to. But, like I said, having the help of the lads really has helped me settle in!” 

“Playing with the same players most weeks at the back has been good; Max (Ehmer) has been brilliant for me. He is a brilliant pro; he is a brilliant footballer and so having him alongside me, indeed all the lads around me, I think that, Tuesday aside, we have defended well, not just the back three or back five, but as a full team, clean sheets are something that we pride ourselves on as a team not just a defensive unit.” 

“The move was a combination of me wanting to play and Hull’s decision for me to come out on loan, I think. I could have easily stayed at Hull, but I felt that I wanted to come out and play games again, and it was something that I felt was important for me in my development so that’s why I came.” 

“Whatever will be will be as I am not really focused about Hull at the moment as I am a Gillingham player at the moment and my sole focus is doing well for the Gills and leaving myself wherever I leave myself in the summer which will take care of itself, I am just focusing on the next game which is Bradford this Saturday!”