Andy Smith was pleased with the response to Saturday's defeat at Accrington Stanley as Gillingham drew 1-1 with Port Vale at the MEMS Priestfield Stadium on Tuesday night.
The central defender knew that Port Vale were going to present a difficult test, and expected a motivated performance from their opponents. Smith believes the Gills matched that in the first half and was disappointed not to come away with all three points.
Smith discussed the entire squad's disappointment with the defeat at Accrington, acknowledging that they all had a point to prove. He was happy to see the fight in their performance.
Ronan Hale scored his fifth goal of the season, with another fine penalty. Smith is glad to see the forward's hard work when it comes to taking the spot kicks pay off.
Assessment of the game...
We knew that Port Vale were going to be a tough side to play against. They are a really good team for the level. They have obviously not had a great start, but they have had a bit of a turn in form, so we knew that they would be right up for it. We matched it, certainly in the first-half. Obviously, we are disappointed to not come away with all three points, though.
That's what we try and make every game. We want it to be a bit of a fight. It is well documented what the Gaffer's style of play is, but I feel like this season it has not just been about the fight; we have played a bit more at times.
These are the games that I love to play in.
Responding from Saturday's defeat at Accrington...
As a team, and as an individual myself, we were really disappointed with the performance on Saturday, so I feel like we all had a point to prove and put some wrong things right. We all came out with the bit between our teeth.
As a unit and as a whole team, Saturday we weren't at it. Individually as well. I think that every single one of us had a point to prove, and that should be a given in every game. Unfortunately, football doesn't work like that. We always go out and try, and give it 100%, but for whatever reason on the day you may not be at the game.
Coming out tonight, not just me; everyone really had a point to prove.
We were really low after Saturday. It was tough. We let ourselves down, we let the fans down, and we let the Gaffer down on Saturday. We weren't at it as a team, so like I say, it felt really nice knowing that everyone was at it tonight. You could see that real fight in everybody tonight, and that is the minimum now. We have to do it.
On Ronan Hale scoring from the penalty spot...
Obviously, the pressure of a game you can't quite replicate that in training, but Ronan works really hard on his penalties. It is something that he really prides himself on. I actually watched him do that penalty, I think that it was yesterday in training, just as we left the training pitch.
He works on it after training, so I am delighted for him that he got the goal.
