Gillingham Manager gives his post match thoughts
Martin Allen said there is room for improvement from his squad despite seeing his team win 3-1 on the opening day of the league season against Bradford at MEMS Priestfield on Saturday.
Two goals from Danny Kedwell, one from the penalty spot, and one from debutant Myles Weston were enough to seal all three points in Martin Allen’s first league game since becoming Manager.
Nahki Wells had reduced the score to 2-1 via the spot in the second half, and in their attempts to grab an equalizer they left themselves exposed at the back and Weston fired in an impressive third having come on as a substitute.
Martin praised his players after the game but also said they can play better considering their performance on Tuesday evening against Bristol City in the Capital One Cup.
Following the game he said: “It was a good start to the league season against a side who are going to be up there at the end of the season without a shadow of a doubt and its credit to our players.
“We didn’t play as well as we can do or what we have been playing but we have still won 3-1 so all in all it was a good day and room for improvement would be on the school report I reckon.”
For a period in the first half the Gills had two chances which nearly hit the back of the net – Andy Frampton coming close with a header and Danny Kedwell then going close, and the manager was full of praise for the way his players applied themselves.
He said: “We planned we would go for it right from the first minute and for the first 20 minutes we were absolutely outstanding.
“The football was brilliant, we had two cleared off the line – we couldn’t keep that up for the duration of the match. They had a bit of the game aswell but we came back and with Myles Weston that’s what he is capable of.
“That’s why we brought him here, he plays on the left hand side – we started him up front but we reverted to 4-5-1 with Kedwell up front but when he is one on one with a full back he is double dangerous.
“It was a top class finish – it was ashame that Bradley Dack didn’t mark his debut with what looked to be exactly the same sort of finish across the keeper after a brilliant move.
“He’s had an amazing pre-season and he has been there or there abouts. Sometimes I’ve had to pull him back a little bit to rest his body and rest his mind.”
The Manager admitted he wasn’t sure who would be available for selection due to the new signings that came in and whether Deon Burton would be given international clearance.
He said: “Deon only got his clearance on Thursday afternoon so it wasn’t until Friday morning when we realised who could and couldn’t play. Myles was done [the transfer] and Deon was available so after winning at a Championship club we had three new players in the squad.
“Yesterday’s training was absolutely amazing and I told the players a few weeks ago that these players would be coming in and that we would get better and stronger.
“I told the players to keep at it and to keep on it – we’re all fighting for places and we are going to have a good squad of players.”