Gillingham will be looking to make it three wins on the bounce at MEMS Priestfield this weekend as Newport County come to Kent and KSN has been talking to midfielder Robbie McKenzie about a tough day last weekend when Gareth Ainsworth’s side were on the end of a 3-0 defeat at York City. 

Reflecting on the end of the Gills first League defeat since opening day, McKenzie told us, “There was a lot to cope with at York last weekend it is true, but there is in every game and there is a lot for us to take out of it – every game is going to be different and you are going to get your challenges but as a group, I do feel that we need to overcome them a little bit better and adapt a bit quicker than we did, but it’s certainly a game that we can learn from and correct things going forward.” 

McKenzie changed roles many times during the game through injuries and formation changes but shrugged his shoulders and admitted, “If that’s what’s needed for the team, then so be it! Sometimes the changes are difficult as you’ve worked all week in that one position and then you’re doing a completely different one, but that’s where a little bit of experience comes into it – I feel that I have that and can implement when needed.” 

“No-one wants to see a teammate go off like that – no matter how good or bad the situation is, you always want the best for them, your teammate and the person, take away from that all they want to do is to play football and that’s been taken away from them.”

“It’s not a nice thing to see, but you have to move on from that and do the job in hand…” 

McKenzie was then asked about the Gills new signing, Tom Eaves, whom he played with after the striker left Priestfield for Hull City where Mckenzie was already playing.

“He is a big character in the changing room,” McKenzie said, “And that’s what we need as we have a good group down there and that’s what we want.”

“I spent a season with him and know what Tom’s like – he was on a high after scoring forty goals in two seasons here; when you’re doing well, you’re doing well you get your ride on the pyramid and get as high as you possibly can, and he did that! And now he’s here to help us!”