Gareth Ainsworth was pleased with his Gillingham side as they battled their way to a well-deserved point during Good Friday's 2-2 draw at Walsall.
The Gills boss was happy to see the supporters rewarded for another fantastic effort, as his side matched their play-off chasing opponents throughout. Ainsworth was disappointed to concede another goal from a set piece, but was glad to have ended the run of five straight defeats.
Walsall went in front during the first-half, but Gillingham did brilliantly to turn the game around in the second period, starting with Ronan Hale's fourth goal for the Football Club. It was a fine passing move that saw the Gills go from the edge of their penalty area to scoring in five passes, and Ainsworth realised how special of a goal it was.
Despite the hard-fought performance, Ainsworth believes the team needs to find that added nous to certain in-game situations, which will serve them better in the long run. He also looked ahead to Accrington Stanley's visit to the MEMS Priestfield Stadium on Easter Monday.
Assessment of the afternoon...
We are getting there. It was not perfect, as we conceded two goals, but to come back from 1-0 down to go in front. The first one was a cracking goal, a really good goal. The second was an opportunist from Seb [Palmer-Houlden], which is brilliant.
The fans were absolutely superb, thank you. It has been tough, and there is no hiding from that. I will front it up every time, but it has been tough. We all needed that. The fans, the players and me. I will keep working, I will keep pushing, and I will keep striving.
I had a bit of a go at half-time because I thought that we didn't play forward enough. I thought that we were very negative, and kept going a bit safe. I don't want safe. I want exciting, I want front foot, and I want forward play. That was shown in that first goal. I thought that it was superb. Walsall were on the back foot, and we then took the lead. If we defend a corner better, then we take the game, maybe. That would have been a fantastic win, but this is a team that is going for the play-offs, and are very close to the play-offs.
We have matched them today, more than matched them at times.
I am really pleased today with the result. We stopped the defeat run, which is really important, and now I want to win against Accrington on Monday.
The special first goal...
The three forwards today, Ronan [Hale], Seb and Garath [McCleary] linked up really well for that first goal. It is a really special goal. That is right up there.
People like the thirty-yarders, and I think that Robbie McKenzie scored a worldie here last year, and everyone remembers that. That one should be remembered because that is a really clever goal. To have your centre forward in about 20 yards of space in their box, how has that worked?
That has worked by good play and good, clever people. That is why Garath McCleary has played at the level that he has played, and he finds that pass. It needed finishing, and he is a great finisher, Ronan. I am really pleased for him. He is going to score a lot of goals for this club. I am pretty certain of that.
Needing to better during in-game situations...
We can be cleverer sometimes. We go into a fight and show our hand and go, 'This is us.' Sometimes, other teams are a little bit more experienced and will win the fight in a little clever way. We need to learn those clever ways, but I have got some youngsters in the team, and they need to learn that way.
People are using their body for somebody that is going for a header and things like that. We have got to be cuter on that. You have got to learn these things in football because they exist. Once we get that full package, we are going to be a good outfit. I have got three or four that I know that I can work with, but I think there has to be some changes.
On Accrington Stanley on Easter Monday...
John Doolan has got a really good squad together, and they work so hard as a team together.
We will go up against a tough Accrington side, but we are at home, and it is Easter Monday, and thankfully, we did not get beat today. We got a good, well-deserved point away from home, and that is something to build on.
We will prepare right, and we will set up for Accrington and what they bring.
