Gareth Ainsworth knows that Gillingham are in for a tough test as Crewe Alexandra visit the MEMS Priestfield Stadium on Saturday.
Crewe currently hold a 100% record in league play this season, and are coming off the back of a 4-1 victory at Fleetwood Town on Tuesday night. The Gillingham manager knows that his side will have to work hard behind the scenes to ensure they are fully prepared for the threat Saturday's visitors will provide.
After the memorable victory against Chesterfield on Tuesday, Ainsworth is quick to point out that he will make sure his players are fully prepared for Crewe on Saturday, putting the previous league fixture quickly in the rearview mirror.
Discussing Crewe…
We have got to get back down to earth quickly, and I’ll make sure of that, because Crewe (top of the league) will be a tough test on Saturday. I’ll make sure that over the next two days, we are working hard on what Crewe could potentially bring and how we beat them. That’s the focus in the next 48 hours.
They are up there, as Chesterfield were. They’ve started the season well and have some players in form. It will be another tough test for us, without a doubt.
They are known over the years for their style of football. Popping the ball around, as a few managers have been quoted as saying. When I analyse the games, without giving anything away, I go into all sorts of details, and there are different things that I look for. We will be ready, but it will be a tough test, as all League Two games are. I’m hoping that we will be as much a worry to every other opposition manager as I do my due diligence on them.
Quickly resetting after Tuesday night’s win…
The experience I have had in my career has helped me a lot. I think that the younger you are, the more you will hit the ground with a bang. Sometimes it happens. It’s my job to make sure that it doesn’t happen to any of my players. When I was a young manager, it definitely happened to me. You can get carried away with it, but there’s absolutely no way in the world that I’ll let them rest on any laurels until the final whistle in the final game goes.
We are ready for Crewe. That’s what I’m saying. We’re in a good position, both mentally and physically.
The whole squad making a positive impact…
No longer is it churning out the same eleven every week. Not many teams do that anymore. It’s a squad game. You can have too big a squad, but with a smaller squad and a tight-knit group, everyone is smelling that first team and wants to be involved. I think that the subs, not just on Tuesday, but in every single game that we have played so far this season, have made an impact.
They’re either scoring, creating chances or shoring games up. They’ve all played a real big part.
We’re really pleased with where we are as a squad. It’s always going to be a squad game going forward.
On Robbie McKenzie…
He’s been sensational at the back, and he is one of the first renewal contracts that I wanted to do, because he is an amazing person. Never mind, a player. What a person, firstly, but what a player. He can almost play in any position, Robbie. He’s very reliable, but you can’t keep moving and shifting players around. You’ll end up short somewhere.
Injury updates…
[On Seb Palmer-Houlden] - He’s not far at all. He’s out on the training pitches. Again, we will see.
We’re very close to some returning. I think that Conor [Masterson] is a bit longer-term. I don’t want to put any pressure on Conor and rushing him back.
