Gillingham will be looking to get back to winning ways this weekend when Tranmere Rovers make the long trip from Birkenhead to MEMS Priestfield in League Two with manager Gareth Ainsworth backing his side to climb the table.

For Ainsworth the game offers his side the chance to get back on track after successive defeats to the division’s top two – Bromley and Notts County – in the past seven days.

Speaking to KSN at this week’s briefing, the Gills boss said, “Tranmere are definitely a team who we will respect – we were a bit lucky to get a draw up there in the end (the sides drew 1-1 at Prenton Park back in August), and after that day, I don’t think anyone would have thought that Tranmere would be in the position that they are in.”

“We will pay them the upmost respect at the weekend but especially here at Priestfield we will be looking for the win.”

“We want to make this place a fortress – at home is where you want to win your games. The Newport game was fantastic, and we really dominated that game and won it right at the end.” 

“The Bromley game last week I still say that second half we really were the better team. If we could have played like that the whole game… there was an incident just after half-time that we can’t change what happened, but it had a massive effect on the result.”

“But that’s all in the past now and it’s how we get on this week at home as I think the Priestfield fans have been patient – they want to win at home!”

“Away from home we try and pick things up and if we had managed to bring a point home from Notts County, it wouldn’t have been a bad result, but getting back to winning at home on Saturday would be fantastic…” 

“Every Club in League Two has got massive respect for being in the Football League no matter what division or what level you are at. Tranmere have a great history and I know the Club well; we know that whatever team they put out they will be fighting as they have been on a bit of a dodgy run, and so we are expecting nothing short of another really tough game which we always get week in, week out at Priestfield!” 

“There is a lot at the moment that we can get frustrated about – we had feedback this week from certain incidents from the Bromley game that perhaps should have gone our way and didn’t, and that does frustrate us!”

“We do also know though that we produced a very good second half against Notts County in the week who are second in the League. How we came away from Nottingham with nothing is amazing – it must have been that Perspex screen in front of their goal,” Ainsworth said ruefully.

“Nothing would go in, but we have to make sure that those chances do go in…” 

“We are on track have no doubt about that and there are signs that we are and we have grown as a team and grown as a Club – I am happy with that and certainly something that I am proud of!”

“Everyone in football wants it yesterday – they all want promotion, they all want to be top of the League, and that’s football in general!”

“I understand and I am lucky that I have a really knowledgeable bunch of fans, a steady set of players and I think that they all know that this long-term plan is something that I am buying into and I want to make sure that it does happen!” 

Looking back towards the weekend, all Ainsworth would confirm was the absence of Conor Masterson after the defender went off against Bromley last Saturday and will be missing “for next couple of games!”

“We are going to have to tread carefully with him,” Ainsworth said, “When we get more info on exactly how long he’ll be out, I will let everyone know.”