Martin hoping for more points at Chesterfield
Martin Allen says he and the squad are very proud of having the best defensive away record in the country, but determination remains to keep improving on it.
The Gills haven’t conceded a goal away from home since December 8, and the Manager is hoping his squad can continue this run of form, and perhaps set a new club record of 11 away wins in a league season in the process by taking points off Chesterfield on Saturday.
He said: “We’ve watched their highlights from last weekend’s game against Rotherham and they were very unlucky with several good chances. Paul Cook is a good manager, he’s done very well in Ireland and has come in at Chesterfield and got a good group of players together.
“We’ve seen teams at the bottom of the league or the bottom six winning against the top teams so it’s a very difficult league and it’s tough.
“It’s a lovely ground, I didn’t live too far from there and they always made me feel very welcome. It’s a good pitch with good facilities and it’s a club on the up. It’s our challenge to go and take something away from them.
“They have good players, good experienced players. They have goal scorers and it’s a dangerous game. We’ll prepare as we normally do, we’ve done all our work on Chesterfield as we always do and we’ll get on with our team when we get up to Nottingham to train.
“They had a big one last week against Rotherham and were unlucky. We know what it’s like; we are seeing it in the Championship with the types of things that can happen to the mind when you get in these positions, but we have been there all season.
“That is testament to the strength of character of our players and our supporters and you don’t need to be a rocket scientist – we have the best goals against record in the whole country away from home which is something we are very proud of and something we want to get better at.
“All our players know what they are doing, they work hard together, they support each other and look after each other and we have to take that in to the last nine weeks which is good.”
Martin revealed that Danny Kedwell could make a return, but said that Charlie Allen would definitely be missing.
He said: “Danny’s got a chance; it’s an area where you can’t do too much too soon. He wants to step forward quicker than what he should so he has to wait – he’s trained extremely hard and has done really well and I’m looking forward to having him back in our squad.
“If you damage that injury again by coming back to quick then the length of time to come back is even worse by another two weeks so we have to be patient. We have to make sure we go through all the different stages of recovery to make sure he is going to be right to be able to play.
“You have to hold him back but as long as you explain it to him its common sense.
“I don’t think Charlie will be fit, a few of our boys have a virus – I’m not sure if its tonsillitis but a few of our lads are out with that and we’ll check out Andrew Frampton because he has a knock. Sam Muggleton is poorly and I think that’s about it.”