Gillingham make their longest trip of the season on Saturday to face lowly Barrow with boss Gareth Ainsworth demanding a response from last weekend’s MEMS Priestfield humbling at the hands of Oldham Athletic. 

The three-nil defeat for the Gills made it three defeats in a week without scoring and the boss has demanded a response this weekend albeit after an eight-hour coach trip to Cumbria. 

Talking to KSN at this week’s briefing, Ainsworth told us, “I told them what I thought last weekend – it’s the first time that I have had to do that this season, in all my time here actually, but we have had a great reaction from the boys… we’re buzzing, it’s League Two football, it is what it is, and we go again this weekend.” 

“We have had a good week – it helps that we’re not up and down the country Tuesday evening, Wednesday morning – and the lads have responded well.”

“Oldham played the game last Saturday really well in our half – we did give them way too many chances and this week I really hope that it’s going to be different at Barrow.” 

“Saturday certainly took a day or two to get out of the system. I am really good perspective wise as we are so lucky to be doing what we are as a job, and I do think that sometimes we can take it for granted whilst sometimes we can be really down in the dumps!”

“It’s a game of football and we can get over it quick. Sometimes it’s good where there is a Tuesday night game for the players but remember you do have to win that game.”

“Last week we went to Crewe and didn’t get what we deserved; Chesterfield came three days later and just compounded the Crewe result really.”

“I am really pleased that we have had a free week this week… it’s football! You put that result to bed; you put the big things to bed – sometimes you have to in football.”

“But we are ready for Saturday, we go again and all I can ask from the boys is for them to give their best, and usually our best has been good enough!” 

“But Barrow will be a dangerous team; they will scrap for everything, they are down in the relegation battle, and they will want to get out of that. Dino Maamria (the Barrow boss) is renowned for getting his teams to work hard over the years, but we go with me wanting to win the game.”

Barrow is one of the Gills least favourite away grounds however as Gillingham haven’t won at Barrow since September 1968.

It has to be remembered though that the Cumbrians lost their League status in 1972 only to rejoin in the last five years. 

Perhaps a better indication is that fact that in the seven League games that have been played since, the home side has won five of them with the other two drawn. 

“Dino’s team aren’t just fighters and scrappers, they can play as well, so we really do have to be ready for anything on Saturday and we will be! We will give our best, it’s all we can do and that’s always been my mantra!” 

“I can remember going to the areas as a kid, but don’t know if I have ever played there or been to the football ground. Someone will tell me I am sure, but coming from Blackburn as I do, we’re only forty-five or so minutes away – I used to water-ski on Lake Windemere and that’s not far from Barrow!”

“It is a lovely part of the World, Cumbria – it’s going to be a long trek, but we are ready!” 

The Gills boss confirmed that the only player definitely missing the long trip will be Conor Masterson, whilst Nelson Khumbeni has returned to full grass training this week.

Meanwhile Garath McCleary, who hobbled off during the Oldham defeat, is being assessed daily by the Club’s medical team and could feature.