Gareth Ainsworth is keen for Gillingham to turn their form around over the Easter weekend as they travel to Walsall for their Good Friday fixture.
The Gills boss wants to see his team dig in deep and give everything that they have to help see a change in fortunes as they head into the final stretch of the season.
Walsall, who are managed by former Gillingham striker Darren Byfield, are currently four games unbeaten, and Ainsworth is expecting another tough afternoon.
The 52-year-old also provided an injury update, touching upon the statuses of Conor Masterson, Robbie McKenzie and Cameron Antwi.
Wanting to turn the form around...
They want to turn it around, and I want them to turn it around. We are in a pretty tough position, and it happens at Football Clubs. I want to see people that are going to dig deep, I want to see people that are going to raise their standards and find a way. There is no giving up in me, ever. I wish, like I said the other day, that I could be out there with them, because I know that I would scrap and give every last bit of blood, sweat and tears to get the result. I need players like that.
We have got some pretty tough moments going on, and that is Football. Get on with it. I want people to get to my standards. I need to drag them to my standard of play and my standard of defending, attacking and playing. I will do all that I can to make that happen, but it hasn't been good enough. I totally understand how the reaction of the fans can be a tough one to take.
On facing Walsall and Darren Byfield...
We’re friends, and we know each other. He’s done a brilliant job since he has taken over. It’s tough this game sometimes because he has changed formation from what they were, and it seems to have given the boys a bit of a lift, and we’re going to have to deal with that. We’re going to have to deal with a Walsall team that have a regenerated play-off push, and they want to go for it now.
Injury update...
Conor [Masterson] is close; he is on the grass. The indications are that Conor is not far away at all. It's horrible because you feel for him. He's such a good player, and he has had such a good impact when he has been in the team, but he has missed so many games because of his injuries. He is desperate to get back. He is desperate for 10 minutes there or 15 minutes here, and that is probably all that he could get at the start. We will see if he's involved.
I don't want to give away too much, but with Robbie [McKenzie], we are a much better outfit. I believe that. I think that he is multi-positional, and his stature on the pitch is good, and he is very experienced, so having Robbie back is crucial, whether that happens or not this weekend, we will see.
[On Cameron Antwi]- There is a possibility that Cameron may have to wait until next season now. We will see.
Cameron took a nasty injury up at Barrow, and we have seen him walking around in a boot. It has not been hidden, so we know that it’s a nasty one. If he gets back for any Football towards the end of the year, that will be a bonus.
