Gillingham are back at MEMS Priestfield this weekend as Crawley Town and the SKY Sports cameras come calling for a 5.30pm kick off on Saturday evening and manager Gareth Ainsworth is hoping his side get a win on TV.

The game marks boss Gareth Ainsworth’s first home League game since his operation six weeks ago, and after last weekend’s 1-0 win over Bristol Rovers which was the manager’s first direct game day involvement since, the manager is naturally eager for Saturday to come round as he told KSN at this week’s briefing.

“It’s going to be a tough game; they are a decent side. We have watched them – Scott Lindsey had had some good success in the past at Crawley. They had a poor start but have found some form now and it’s fair to say that they will be tough opposition on Saturday here at Priestfield.” 

“It’s a different kick-off this week which obviously is something strange, but I think the lads are all professionals. I think that they will just put back their pre-match a couple of hours and get a better sleep.” 

“We have had a lot of respect off teams when they have come here wary as we started the season so well, but I think that Scott is someone who will come at you – his teams play his style of football; they want to get at you, they are a youngish side full of energy and athleticism – we have to be at our best and we have trained with them in mind and the shape we will play to stop Crawley, but also what breaks them down and what we can do to score goals against them, and that’s my job as a manager.” 

“We want to back up the result from Bristol last week – it will be nice to win back-to-back in the League – but in no way, shape or in form will this be an easy game, it will be a tough game.”

“There is a bit extra on it of course – a few of our staff came from Crawley, and Scott is local to the area, so there’s a real mix-up in there!”

“It’s a local-ish derby as well so it will be tough without a doubt, but I believe in my boys – I think we have a great spirit amongst us, we have some match-winners and we are solid, defensively I am very proud of where we are, but it’s another game and there are no easy games in this League.” 

“Crawley are one of the top scorers for shots in the opposition box so we are going to have to ride the storm – they are going to come at us, we know that, but we like going to teams as well; I don’t think it’s going to be nil-nil this one, I’m expecting goals and let’s hope that we can get the majority of them!” 

“All managers have different styles, and it would be very boring if we didn’t,” Ainsworth continued.

“We have an identity here and I hope that if you ask any player what our identity is they can name two or three key points that we stand for and again the same with Crawley – they will have an identity on what they want to do as well, and that’s is the beauty of football – how different the styles are.”

“Some people are defined by styles, some are defined by results, I personally look to win games and will do anything to win a game while some people will stick to a certain way and a certain style to win a game and they have to win it that way – at the end of the day, at the end of the season, it’s all about who wins most games at the end of the season, and for me, I intend to win as many as I can!” 

Ainsworth then confirmed that the only players definitely missing at the weekend are long term injured Conor Masterson and Euan Williams with the latter having suffered a set-back in his recovery, with the manager stressing that neither player would be rushed back from injury and are more likely to “like a new signing in January.” 

“But patience is key for both of them – I don’t want to put pressure on them! Euan had a nasty injury with his shoulder and I know that when you get back, the rest of your body has to get up to speed as well – it’s been tough for him being without contact for so long as contact gets you match-fitness and back in the groove.”

“Conor was in a boot and crutches for a while, and I know that’s another tough one as you have to build your strength up again. So those two are definitely out but everyone else is in contention.”