Gareth Ainsworth believes there are plenty of signs to be encouraged by following Gillingham’s 1-0 pre-season victory against Millwall.
Will Goodwin scored the only goal of the game after 17 minutes on Tuesday, and the Gills did well to make life difficult for their visitors. Ainsworth was impressed with the work rate and effort he saw from his team, but knows there is more to do on the training pitch.
The Gillingham manager hopes that the game allowed his players to have learnt more about one another, with the starting XI containing many summer signings.
With the pre-season schedule almost over, Ainsworth discussed what to expect over the next ten days, with the friendly at Chatham Town on Friday first up.
Assessment of the performance…
There were some really positive signs from a lot of people. I thought that the work rate from all the boys, the ones who started the game and the ones who finished the game, was really good. It’s something that I am asking for this season. I think that we need to work, and work really hard, to be successful. I will make sure that happens.
I am pleased with the result, but it’s one of the games where I can put the result to the side and say that I am pleased with the performance, and there were some real good individual moments. There is stuff to work on. There always is, but all in all, it was a good night.
What was learned from the friendly…
I am hoping that the players learnt about each other in when they will run, and if we all work so hard like they did tonight, then they will get results.
I know what I signed; I know what I have got in the building. It’s nice when it comes together. It is, but this is a pre-season friendly. Millwall probably were at 70%. You have got to respect that team that nearly got to the Premier League last year.
We will face some tough teams in League Two. We will be with the ball, and we will be without the ball. Set pieces we haven’t really touched on yet. We need to get them going, which we will in the next couple of weeks.
Tribute to Kenny Jackett…
What a fantastic human being. What a fantastic footballer. I think that both sets of fans applauding like they did, and both sets of players. Me and Alex Neil know exactly the type of man that Kenny was. I am just humbled to be able to say thanks, Kenny, and rest in peace.
My thoughts are with his family. He will be remembered.
The rest of the pre-season schedule…
We have a game against Brentford on Saturday (behind closed doors). First of all, Chatham on Friday, which is always a great game. It’s nice to go down there. It’s almost Medway coming together. The communities are great. It’s always a nice game as well; there is a bit of a rivalry, but in a friendly way. They have done fantastic to build that club up the way that they have.
A couple next Friday, then that will be the end. It will be the weekend off, and then we will be in the first week of the season. That has come around very quick.
