Gareth Ainsworth was beaming with pride after his side beat already promoted Port Vale 1-0 on the final day of the League Two season at Vale Park.
The hosts went into the game with hopes of winning the league title, but Gills were resolute defensively throughout, restricting Port Vale to half-chances. Ainsworth was delighted with how well his side stood up to the task, especially during the closing moments when The Valiants applied plenty of pressure.
Aaron Rowe scored the game's only goal with a stunning left-footed strike from around 20 yards that found the top corner. The Gills boss spoke highly of the winger and is looking forward to him having an important role going forward after an impressive end to the campaign.
Ainsworth looked ahead to preparing for next season, outlining what to expect during the summer. The 51-year-old also asked for patience in the process as the Football Club looks to build an identity and structure.
Discussing the game...
I am really, really pleased with the boys. I am proud of that performance. Defensively, we were resolute. We changed shape to combat what Port Vale bring, and the boys were excellent. In the first half, I thought that we could have been better at holding the ball up, as it kept coming back at us too easily.
There were a couple of hairy moments there, especially when we played the lad onside. After that, chances were few and far between, which they have been since I have come in. We have really limited chances for the opposition, and this is a good side. This a very good side. They are second in the league and could have become champions today.
In the second half, we put a little bit more of a press on them, and we tweaked a few things at half-time. I thought that we put it on them in the second half; I really did. Of course, they are going to commit loads of men at the end.
It was a tough, tough wave after wave at the end there, but the heading and the blocks. Max Clark had a block, Shad [Ogie] had a block, and Conor Masterson was immense in the air. Then Remeao [Hutton], we switched him further up, and [Sam] Gale was always going to be there.
We have got some resilience. For those balls that fly into the box, you have the reliable Mr Morris [Glenn Morris] coming for them and calming everything down. As a unit, that back five or six that we have been playing has been something to really build on. They deserve so much credit today.
On Aaron Rowe...
We had some moments of magic and the goal proved that. What a great finish and I want more from Aaron [Rowe] because he is a super player. He has had Premier League appearances for a reason. He is going to be key for us scoring goals.
Belief is incredible in what it does to players. When you believe in someone they run that bit harder, hit that net a bit more and they put in great crosses. His goal is fantastic, but the work rate that Aaron Rowe gave today was superb. He was winning headers. He does everything.
The returning Josh Andrews...
What a tough season he has had. Tougher than most. I say the boys have been through it, and he really has been through it. There's an expectation on him. He did brilliantly today. I am really pleased, and it's a positive for us.
Looking ahead to next season and the future...
Seeing them celebrating, seeing everyone going on the pitch, seeing what they have got and how they built it. We can do this. We can. It's going to take time. Believe me, I don't want anyone getting carried away. I know that it's a great run at the moment, but I am really proud of the boys today.
We have got to be patient and have just got to build slowly because, at the moment, everything is going rosy. It won't. There will be moments when we are up and moments when we have lost a couple. We have got to keep together and stick together. That is my rhetoric.
I don't have to change too much here. Don't expect ten new faces in the summer. It's not going to happen. We are going to have an identity and a structure, and that is what we are going to put our time into. There will be a sprinkling of some good players. I want to add to the squad, not change the squad.
Thanking everybody...
Thank you for everyone this season. The fans, all of the staff and all of the players. We have been through a lot of change, and to come out with a great result away at Port Vale is a fantastic credit to them.
