Mark Byrne has been enthusing about Gillingham’s recent run of form and is looking to extend the run into Christmas.
Byrne told us, “The boys know how vital it is to get results and to win the last four games away from home is great. We’ve got to take game management into games and if we have to grind out result then so be it.”
“We’ve performed really well in the last couple of games and the confidence levels are high. It’s always going to be difficult when you’re near the wrong end of the league, you really have to knuckle down to get results.”
“If you look at any League and you see a team going on a run of wins, the team is nearly always performing better and playing better as opposed to picking out when and where the next three points are coming from to get you out of the position that you’re in.”
Reflecting on the run, Bryne said, “At Bristol Rovers we were comfortable enough for the first seventy minutes or so until the sending off and we always knew that there was going to be some trouble before the end as they were always going to come at us the way they did, but we dug in deep and defended as a team which was the main thing and defended as a team and that’s come to the fore more in the last couple of games.”
“Last year when we had our great run, that’s what we were doing week in, week out and being consistent.”
“We always look at the opposition and if we win the ball high up the pitch the more chances you create and that’s what was so pleasing about the way we played at Scunthorpe last week, as we pressed high and that’s what we did.”
“Showed when I set Dean (Parrett) up with his goal last week – Barry (Fuller) did well to put me through and his finish was fantastic into the corner. Delighted for him as it’s his first for the club, but we could have had four or five last weekend! It was a great performance.”
“I’m getting forward a bit more playing where I am and I’d just like to score a few more goals, though if I’m creating chances that’s good for me and if DJ (Darren Oldaker) is playing the balls he is, as someone to find me higher up the pitch, especially as he’s not afraid to play the balls.”
“Hopefully we can keep creating the chances and the goals will come from someone else other than Tom (Eaves).”
Looking ahead to Saturday’s visit of Wycombe Wanderers to Priestfield, Bryne admitted, “It’s going to be a tough game at the weekend as they’re on a fine run of form at the moment.”
“But if we can get the three points on Saturday to keep on the good run that we’re on into the Christmas period. We’ve got to keep going – everyone knows that over Christmas if you put a couple of wins together you can move higher up the division. Last year we had a good Christmas period and shot up the table – why can’t we do it again this year?”