Gareth Ainsworth was proud of every member of his squad after Gillingham's 1-0 victory against Walsall at the MEMS Priestfield Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Bradley Dack scored the winning goal just short of the hour, getting himself off the mark for the new season. Ainsworth was delighted for Dack, admitting that once the ball fell to him, there was never any doubt where it would end up.
The Gills boss discussed his hopes of making ME7 a place that teams fear to visit, being a team that the opposition view as 'horrible to play against'.
Ainsworth also provided an update on Conor Masterson, thanked the fans for their superb support, and discussed Tuesday's upcoming Carabao Cup first round tie with AFC Wimbledon.
Discussing the game...
I am proud of a group of boys in there who have given everything. We had a way that we wanted to set up and a way that we wanted to play today. I think that in the first half, we did it to an extent, and we didn't really hurt them too much. I made a change at half-time. I thought that the ball needed to stick up top a little bit more.
They sat very deep against us, Walsall, so I thought that if they are going to sit deep, then let's bring on a big man and cause them some problems deep. I thought that Josh [Andrews] was very good in the second half. He gives us a presence, and we ended up getting up the pitch.
The football was not as great as in the first half; it was a bit more pragmatic, but we ended up getting a long throw, which ends in a goal. We will take it however it comes.
I thought that we saw it out really well. There were some solid performances and real energy. I am really proud of these boys today. They gave me everything. They deserve all of the credit. They have got the win today. Not just the XI that started, and not the XI that finished. Jonny Williams, Nelson Khumbeni and Jake Turner on the bench were so behind the boys, as were the injured boys behind the bench.
You felt it today. That's the identity that I want to bring back here.
On Bradley Dack...
Bradley [Dack], obviously, it was only ever going to be him wasn't it? In the first home game after his commitment to the club in the summer. Believe me, he has come here because he loves this club and he is invested in what we're trying to do. He's a leader in that dressing room, and he is bringing on some of the young boys.
To be fair, there was one in the first half, and I thought that if there was anyone that I wanted that to land to, it's Bradley Dack. His technique is superb. He blasted that one over the bar, and I think that disappointed him, so when it came to the second time, he wasn't going to miss that. It was a great finish, and he is off the mark, which is great.
An update on Conor Masterson...
He said that he felt something in his calf, so we will have to look at that. Hopefully, the prognosis won't be as bad as first thought.
Making the MEMS Priestfield Stadium a place to be feared...
Somebody just said to me that you look horrible to play against. That's the biggest compliment a manager could ever have. I don't want to be nice to play against. I want to be horrible to play against.
I want people to come here and go, 'We hate coming to Priestfield. Not only is it miles away, but it is also horrible to go there. The fans are right on your back and right with the team. They don't let you have an inch, and their energy is great.'
That is what I want, and that is superb. We found a way to win today. We really did.
The supporters...
The fans were brilliant. Thank you. You got us over the line. I had to ask for a little bit on about 92 minutes, and they responded really well. I think that they helped get us home.
Previewing AFC Wimbledon in the Carabao Cup...
Players will love this Saturday to Tuesday. It's mayhem for me and my staff, but we will be strong on Tuesday without a doubt. We want a cup run. We got to Manchester City away at Wycombe four or five years ago, and it went well for the first 20 minutes, and after that, we can put that to bed! It was a brilliant day for the Wycombe fans and one that lives in the memory.
You can get these ties if you can get a cup run. It's not something that I will belittle. FA Cup and the League Cup, I don't belittle those competitions. They are big for me.
We will be strong on Tuesday and are going for the win.
