Gareth Ainsworth is hoping that Gillingham can build on their strong point at Fleetwood when they welcome Northampton Town to the MEMS Priestfield Stadium on Saturday.
Both teams are looking to open their accounts for goals this season, and Ainsworth has full belief in his attacking players to make the difference this weekend. He also called upon the need to be more clinical when chances, especially the simpler ones, arise.
It was confirmed earlier in the week that Kadeem Harris had ruptured his ACL and will miss a lengthy spell of time. The Gills boss is devastated for Harris, but backs him to get back to his absolute best when he makes his return to the pitch.
Ainsworth also provided team news for Saturday, as he called upon the supporters to get right behind the team, knowing that they will play an important role at the weekend.
Looking towards Saturday against Northampton Town...
I am looking forward to Saturday now. We know what we are going to do. We have worked hard in training this week, and the boys are in a good place. The boys are in a positive place, which they should be, because when Fleetwood played Shrewsbury in midweek and beat them the way that they have done, we are looking at Fleetwood and saying, 'Actually, how good is that point away from home?' We think that it could be quite a decent point against a decent team this early in the season.
Both teams are going to be desperate for their first goal of the season. It's the toughest part of the game scoring goals; it really is. But I believe in Will [Goodwin], and I believe in Ronan Hale. We have got to make sure that we are creating easier chances, or when the easier chances do come, we have to stick them in. It is as simple as that. It is the hardest part of the game, but it will come, without a shadow of a doubt.
On Kadeem Harris following his ruptured ACL...
I spoke to Kadeem on the evening that he got the news, and obviously on the Saturday when we got back from Fleetwood. It is terrible. I have to correct myself because in the interview I said after the game that I thought there was a connection. There was no connection. He was on his own, and there was no one near him. He has twisted his knee, and his foot has been caught in the grass, and he has ruptured his ACL.
It is a big injury, obviously, but it is not as big as it used to be. The positives are that he is a strong lad, a fit lad and his attitude is absolutely sensational. I am sure that Kadeem will be back and he will still be as quick, as strong and as exciting as ever. We are going to miss him, obviously, as he is going to be out for quite some time now. That is the horrible bit about football, the injuries. The lads have all rallied around him.
Team News...
Garath [McCleary] is on the grass, which is great. He is out there, so I am sure that we will see him pretty soon. Sam Tabares and Bradley Dack, again, are both very close. Whether Saturday might be a stretch too far is a maybe. Ethan [Coleman] and Armani [Little] are still going to be out for that one. We are what we are.
I don't often give a lot of injury news, but with what we have been through, I want the fans to be aware that I am going to need them on Saturday. Get behind the boys, because we are down a few bodies, but there is no reason that the boys I put out cannot go and win this game.
