Manager John Coleman compared Gillingham’s performance in their draw with Walsall on Tuesday as like ‘night and day’, and has challenged his players to push on with a win against Crewe Alexandra on Saturday

“Obviously the players were a lot more pleased with the way that they played on Tuesday,” Coleman told the assembled media for this week’s briefing.

“They were pleased to get something out of the game as we all were, but we know that there are still big steps to be made and big steps going forward. We looked at what we did well, we looked at things we could improve on and we have contrasted it with other performances and see what we’ve done on one side in one game and what we haven’t done in the other!” 

“It’s a learning curve for all of us!” 

“Shifting formations was one where the players have to get used to that, and just looking at some of the data from the other night, it was pleasing; it re-enforced what we are trying to do and a lot of our objectives were ticked off in what we tried to do to them and how we tried to play, and how we got our shape.

“So, going forward, whatever shape we play and there’s no guarantee we’ll play that shape again but whatever shape we do play we have got to be prepared to understand it for one, and embrace it for two! But whatever shape you place what it boils down to at the end of the day is that it is 11v11!” 

“The difference between Saturday and Tuesday was (quite literally) night and day!” Coleman said smiling as he realised what he’d been asked.

“Seriously, it was, it was totally different ends of the spectrum as we turned things around in such a quick time and it’s the players who have to take credit for that.

“We as a staff are here to encourage them; we’re like the leading gear from that prospective! There was a lot of soul searching here on Monday morning and that’s when we had to step up to do our job, and that’s when we earned our corn really!

“We were pleased with the response from that but that will account for nothing if we don’t get that same response and more on Saturday against Crewe.

“Our fans were brilliant at Walsall and I can’t thank them enough, the noise that they made and the appreciation that they showed the players, and I have said since the day I walked into Priestfield, it has to be like a marriage – you can’t have just one, one person being the one providing all the support!

“The fans have to support the team, but the team has to give them something to support, they have to give them that and probably give them back more to be honest. So, it was great to have seen that, but on Saturday here at home there will be ten, fifteen or twenty times more people and have to please them and excite them. I think that we’re all looking forward to the game which is great!” 

“The thing is that you can always raise people’s expectations but you cannot lower them; I think that we’ve raised them now after Tuesday, we’ve raised the bar and that’s the bar that we have set, we have to give it to them and maybe the next level.”  

In terms of team news Coleman confirmed that both Conor Masterson and Ethan Coleman are back training on the grass whilst the manager is hopefull that both Euan Williams and Marcus Wyllie will be back in training next week at some point! Whilst loan signing Asher Agbinone has returned to Crystal Palace for treatment on a hamstring injury.