Steve Evans has addressed the local media ahead of Gills trip to Doncaster.
Gills boss Steve Evans is calling on his players to put in a big performance against Doncaster on Saturday after moving to within four points of the play-offs. Evans, recently nominated for the Sky Bet League One Manager of the Month award, has seen his side rise up the table after a five game unbeaten streak, and he is now hoping to make it six.
Evans spoke to the local press ahead of the fixture to discuss the weekend’s opponents and the club's recent form.
League form
“I think the improved results are down to a combination of factors. It’s fine margins. You could lose 3-0 in League One and have been in the game. An example of that is you could be 1-0 down against the run of play and on 75 or 80 minutes a team gets a couple of late goals and it looks as though you have been well-beaten on the day, when the reality is that those attending and those involved know that’s not the case.
“We know we have gone to the likes of Crewe and not played particularly well, but that was about grinding out a result. Crewe have been in great form since. We went to Bristol Rovers and we win very comfortably and they have won a couple since. It tells you that it is the finest of margins. That’s the way it is all the way through the league.”
Lining up new recruits
“We have to be within four or five points of the play-offs. We will be stronger in January, the main reason being we didn’t get all the players we needed. We still have resources for three or four signings. I didn’t want to add bodies for the sake of adding bodies.
“We can sign players every day of the week, but will they be the right players? That’s the challenge I set myself.
“We want to strengthen in January and we will. We have to be patient.”
Equality
“We are all the same, God made us all the same. We might believe in different Gods, but he made us all the same. In football, racism needs to be kicked out. It needs to be stamped on and dealt with. I’ve kept very silent on the matter because it is not my overall business but we will have none of it in our Football Club. The Chairman and me would stamp on it."
Away to Doncaster
“We are focused. It is a big game for us. I can see Doncaster challenging for automatic promotion. Credit to Darren Moore. He’s made some fantastic additions. He is a manager who should never have lost his job at West Brom.
“We are taking all our players up to Doncaster today. We are going to have to ask some of them on the day to take fitness tests.
“We are going to need one or two of my players to say, ‘Gaffer, I want to play.’ We are very, very light. We are at the risk of travelling up to Doncaster and having to put three players on the bench. I hope some players stand up tomorrow.”