Gills Manager proud of collective efforts during win over Accrington
Martin Allen was proud of his players after watching them move eight points clear at the top of the league courtesy of a 1-0 win over Accrington Stanley at MEMS Priestfield on Saturday.
A first half strike from Matt Fish was enough to clinch all three points for the home side, and Martin said every player put in a big shift to achieve a positive result.
He said: “I thought we were absolutely fantastic in the first half. We played some really good football and were very tenacious.
“We have all seen in all of the divisions that the anxiety can set in for the home teams who are finding it difficult and struggling to win.
“I thought the players showed determination, courage, togetherness and unity to protect that goal. Of course we would all have liked to have seen us play like we did in the first half.
“As we have seen with all the clubs it’s not easy at this stage and time of the year. I thought Accrington to be fair to them played very well in the second half, they have had some good results recently and they made it very difficult for us.
“I wouldn’t say we held on, I thought we defended resolutely and defending is an important part of the game.
“I think we have got one of the best goals against records in the country and you can see that when we went 4-5-1 everybody did their job for the club. Yes there was relief but also the atmosphere and the excitement of the supporters, you could tell it was a great victory.
“There weren’t too many chances for the opposition. Yes when we defend like that it’s not great for the home supporters. They all defend, we have conceded quite a few goals in the last five, ten minutes of games and it was important we kept that clean sheet all the way to the end.
“Yet again it’s another clean sheet for the club.”
As for the strike that Matt Fish produced to score the goal he said:
“Unbelievable wasn’t it? I’ve never seen Fish kick it with his left foot, never. He then nearly goes and breaks the cross bar, in off the bar – it was an unbelievable shot and it went in like a missile. What a great moment that was to him.
“He has been fantastic this season and is getting better and better and I think the supporters have hooked on to him aswell.”
To read our official match report in full click here.
To watch the opening part of Martin’s press conference click here.