Gareth Ainsworth has called on his players to bounce back from the defeat against York City as Gillingham host Newport County at MEMS Priestfield Stadium on Saturday.
The Gills boss outlined the threats that Newport will pose, acknowledging that they are a direct and powerful side. However, he hopes that 'The Exiles' will be aware of the strengths that his squad will present, knowing that Gillingham will have to be right on it to secure a positive result.
Will Goodwin and Eli King went off during the first-half at York, and Ainsworth provided an update on the pair. He also discussed the signing of Tom Eaves, who made his return to the Football Club earlier in the week.
Bouncing back...
We have to. The boys have to step up, and the boys have to run through brick walls for me. Be intense, win their duels, play the system that we want to play, but also add themselves to the game. Their personalities, and that's what I want from them. I am sure that they will; I really am. We have got some good leaders in there, and I am excited to put out what I will put out on Saturday and say, 'Right, go on then boys, let's get back to winning ways on our pitch, at Priestfield in front of the fans.'
What a day, and what a job! Go and do it!
On Newport County this Saturday...
They are quite direct and powerful. They have got some decent players in [Shaquille] Gwengwe and [Michael] Adu-Poku on the wings. They have Harrison Biggins playing in behind a resurgent [Christian] Doidge up front. We have to be careful and be a match for these.
But I am hoping that they are looking at it going, 'Wow, Gillingham have really performed well, and some of the goals that they are scoring. We have to be careful of this, and we have to watch that.'
Not just turn up to Priestfield and think we have got a chance. Not anymore. That's what I want to say, and I want to make sure that my boys are right on it on Saturday.
Injury Updates...
Ronan seems to be taking a lot of whacks. His ankle, and then I think that he played on with a broken nose at the weekend... He had a little click in it, and I think that it has been straightened back up, but it is still very painful for him to play on and do what he did. He has been in the wars.
Will [Goodwin], I am devastated for him, really, because he was looking good in the game when he came on against Bristol Rovers and also played a half against Cambridge. It didn't go well, but he is getting his minutes up. I am very shocked and sad to see that he had to limp off after 20 minutes again. It really impacted us as a team because I thought that he was great.
[On Eli King's knee injury] - His knee twisted, and he has still got scans to go yet, so I think that they do the MRI's, and then they do the CT's just to make absolutely sure of what they are dealing with now. I don't think it is as bad as when he first did it, but still, after an ACL reconstruction, anything going in that knee again, you have to be careful with. We are just wishing him the best, and hopefully, he will be back soon. Eli will be missing this weekend.
The signing of Tom Eaves...
He is definitely somebody that will be feared in League Two. He scored ten goals in League One last season and has had a really good career playing in Championship games. Gillingham sort of is his best spell of his career, and we hope that continues. He is a great guy.
Losing Will [Goodwin] last week, again, for the second time, was tough to see, and we want to make sure that with Lamin [Sillah] and Ronan [Hale] as the other two forwards to add to that. I need them fit and people available to play, and Tom's a little bit behind with game time. He hasn't played a full game since with Northampton last year. He has been training with the PFA and is fit, but there is fit, and then there is match fit. Don't be shouting for Tom Eaves after ten minutes, because it won't be happening on Saturday. We will play this one very carefully.
He gives us something that is different to the style that we have been employing, and I think that is nice to have. That difference and plan B, as you would.
