Bradley Dack knows that Gillingham will be judged on how they respond following the 1-0 defeat against Harrogate Town at the MEMS Priestfield Stadium.
The midfielder was disappointed that the Gills could not break down the strong rearguard of the visitors on Saturday. However, he credited them for how well they defended after going a goal in front.
Dack came off at half-time and gave an update on that reasoning. The 31-year-old discussed how important a positive reaction to the defeat is for the team and is confident that it can happen with the coaching staff and squad the Football Club has.
The Gillingham captain on the day was appreciative of the efforts from the supporters in ME7, and is hopeful that there can be similar crowds throughout the season.
Thoughts on the game...
We created enough chances to go and win the game today, and unfortunately, we couldn't put the ball away. We didn't have that last bit of quality, and sometimes you need a bit of luck. We are disappointed with the goal that we conceded. We restricted them to a few chances, but they scored, and we gave them something to hold onto, which they did well. Credit to them, they put their bodies on the line and made a lot of blocks. They rode their luck at times.
Obviously, it's disappointing, but we are in a good place. We have got a lot of characters in that team. We have got a good leader in the manager and Dobbo [Richard Dobson], and good staff, so I know that we will bounce back, no doubt about it.
Reason for the half-time substitution...
I am fine. I felt a little twinge, which was muscular, so it was more of a precaution. We will get it seen to this week, and hopefully I will be fine.
Moving on from the defeat...
It was going to come, so it's about how we react to that and how we bounce back. I have full confidence in the team and the club as a whole that we will bounce back and carry on doing what we're doing.
It's about bouncing back. It's about how you take defeats. Winning is a habit, going unbeaten is a habit, and losing can quickly become a habit as well- as we found out last year. We have got to be on it. I know that the manager and Dobbo will make sure that we are. I have no doubts about that.
It's a good game to come back into. MK away is a decent stadium, they're a good team, and it's a good chance to show what we're made of and what we have got.
On the support...
I have been here a few times when the away fans have filled up that stand [The Brian Moore Stand], but it was nice to have support from behind both goals. They definitely helped us today; they pushed us on.
It was nice to have fans behind both goals. Hopefully, we can keep getting big gates in.
It gives you such a lift when the place is full and rocking. It would have been nice to have got a goal for them. We had a few chances early before they scored, so it would have been nice to hear the roar if we did get a goal. Hopefully, they come back at the next home game, because we are going to need them. There are going to be difficult moments throughout the season, like today. That won't be the first one. There will be hard times, and they will definitely help to pull us through.
