Martin delivers his thoughts after Accrington draw...
Martin Allen said he was pleased with the performance of his players having watched them grind out a point with just ten men in the latter stages of the second half against Accrington on Saturday.
The Gills drew 1-1 at the Crown Ground despite having taken the lead through Myles Weston, but a penalty, which saw Stuart Nelson sent for a professional foul, was converted by former Premiership striker James Beattie to ensure both teams shared the spoils.
Despite the numerical disadvantage the visitors continued to push for a winner but sadly found opposing keeper Ian Dunbavin in good form as he kept out a late Lewis Montrose effort.
Speaking shortly after the game Martin said:
“The result was a great result away from home, the team gave everything they had got and played some good football in some difficult conditions with the wind and the rain.
“The opposition didn’t have many shots and we restricted them to a few. I’m unsure about the sending off, I couldn’t really see from where I was.
“Even at the end with ten men we were still pushing to try and get a goal and to come up here and get a point is good. I have come here a few times and been spanked, it’s a tough ground to come and play especially for the third time in a week so it’s a good point for us today.
“No criticisms for any of our players, they have all had a good go, played well, been solid and it was a good away performance.
“I thought for 70 minutes they were not really in it and we looked more than comfortable. They were not getting anywhere near our goal and they were having some possession but not threatening.
“Then in a mad 10 minutes in the second half it did look like they were going to score but we regrouped, reorganised and then near the end it looked like we were going to score.
“Coming to Accrington is always difficult there’s no doubt about it, let’s not kid ourselves. One thing I asked of the players today was that they had the commitment; they would compete, be passionate, face up to the wind and the rain.
“Someone said to me that we have conceded 11 goals in the last two games here so we have certainly turned that around and I suppose that’s another measure of how far we have come.
“Disappointed to concede a penalty but it’s the end of a long week and the players deserve a good break. We’ll now prepare for the FA Cup on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, give them a break and hopefully get Kedwell fit again ready for next week.”
The striker picked up an injury during training late last week and so wasn’t risked as part of the match squad, but the manager is hoping it is a short term problem which will be put right before the cup game against Preston on Saturday.
He said: “He had a sore groin Thursday afternoon; people have to be fully fit. He came up here with us as part of our team because he’s integral to what we do and the spirit of our group.
“He felt better this morning and at a push and a shove I suppose he could have played but we don’t need to do that because we have other good players aswell.
“We will review it again on Wednesday - sitting on a sofa it’s not too bad but tis getting involved in an eight v eight and running around. Just by resting at home it’s not quite a measure of fitness so it’s best not to do any worse damage and lose him for three or four weeks which, for a groin strain, it would be.”