“Gillingham are a big Club but have got to start behaving like it!” The words of John Coleman ahead of Bradford City’s trip to MEMS Priestfield this weekend, as the Gills bid for back-to-back home wins since the end of September and for just the third time this season. 

The Bantams come to Kent in form having won 1-0 at Hayes Lane ten days ago, part of a run of one defeat in thirteen games (winning ten) that has taken the Yorkshire side to being leaders Walsall’s nearest challengers. 

The task facing Coleman’s side then is clear but buoyed by Saturday’s win over Morecambe there is hope. “I have said since day one that we do not fear anybody at home; we will respect what they have to offer but we have a lot to offer as well!” 

“The harsh reality is that one win in eleven games for us isn’t good enough, nowhere near good enough!” 

“I accept that! I think that students of form and people who watch every game will have seen an improvement in the way that we have played, in the effort, in the passion, the fact that we are making more chances. But that counts for nothing of you don’t win games, winning games of football is the currency of the game. There are so many variables in football that’s difficult, but other teams do it, so why can’t we?” 

Reflecting on Tuesday’s disappointing defeat at Newport, Coleman admitted, “I’ve watched the game back several times – including at 7 am Wednesday morning after not getting in until 3:30, directly after the game.

“I thought we played some decent football, but when I looked back, some of our play really wasn’t very good, in fact it was poor! Some good passing movements but generally poor, defensively as a team, as an eleven, we were too wide open, and we made basic errors that have to be eliminated.

“It was a game that, the way it panned out, we could have really got something out of the game if we hadn’t of surrendered the goals as easily as we did.

“There’s no excuses – it’s down to us, and it’s down to us to work hard on the training ground to get that right, to get the selection right, to get the players up for the game on any given day, and that’s down to me… Hopefully we are improving!” 

“The big disappointing thing about Tuesday is that for three of the previous four games we have defended really well with that same back three. We defend as an eleven and as an eleven we’ve defended well. I just thought that on Tuesday we lost our way very quickly and never really regained the composure that we have shown recently and that really is a disappointment.” 

“On Saturday we must go out believing that whatever side gets picked, they are there to do a job and they will be supported by everybody who is in the changing rooms!

“Bradford are in form aren’t they, but they have had times when they haven’t been,” Coleman told us.

“That is the nature of this League at the moment. They have got into a grove where they are comfortable with their style that they are playing. They have experienced players who know the League and can compete within the League. Sometimes that’s the recipe for success, and they have to keep that going if they are going to get promoted automatically.” 

“We haven’t scored enough goals for at least two seasons and definitely since I came here, we haven’t, and so we have to address that. We are playing a system where we have three strikers on the pitch and then you get criticised if you play a striker in the middle of the park and you get beaten!

“It is horses for courses, and you have to think and decide what’s right on the day. Looking back, I could have maybe made a couple of substitutions at Newport, possibly would not have affected the game other than getting minutes into people’s legs, but when people are clamoring for changes you think that its already worked and is already successful.

“So, when you don’t make a sub, you’re asked why as this would have happened or that would have happened, there is no guarantee whatsoever – I have learned that the hard way over the years. A settled team get to know each other playing better, but I’m not saying for one second that we will play the same team on Saturday.”