Striker delighted with collective performance following superb win over Sheffield United
Gills striker Cody McDonald said the players thoroughly deserved all three points after defeating Sheffield United 2-1 at Bramall Lane on Saturday afternoon.
The forward was first to a rebound early in the second half when John Mousinho’s initial effort came back off the bar, and Cody made no mistake in regaining the lead for the visitors.
He had come on in place of Danny Kedwell after 20 minutes when the Gills number nine limped off with a shin injury.
Following the game he said: “It feels great; the lads thoroughly deserved it. It does make it sweeter that I scored it but it doesn’t matter as long as we win.
“We put in a great shift, the lads were great and the manager said how solid we looked. We have set our standards now and we have to stick to it.
“I thought I did well. The gaffer said at half time that I needed to read the game a bit better and I took that on board and did that in the second half.”
His goal took everybody by surprise with everyone believing the ball was heading out of play, but McDonald pounced and ensured his opportunity was converted.
He added: “To be honest myself, their defence and the keeper thought it was going over. It dipped at the last minute, everything seemed to go in slow motion – I just seemed to get there before anyone else but you have to be on your toes and it went in.
“We have been working hard on shape in training, the manager has been drilling that in to us and the lads have fitted in brilliantly. It’s important we don’t stop there; we need to push on and do it again Monday and next Saturday.
“We were disappointed with the goal that we conceded but it takes great character to bounce back and win the game at a place like this and we showed that.
“People say they are struggling but it’s still a massive club and a good team and if you can’t get belief from winning here then when will you?”
McDonald could be in line to start on Monday with a number of players either out injured or ineligible for the FA Cup, and he is hoping he gets the chance to impress after netting at Bramall Lane.
He said: “I’m there to challenge the other lads. Keds has been brilliant and he’s got to be the first name on the sheet because hes been superb. He’s picked up an injury, I’m not sure he will be alright for Monday but if not hopefully the Manager will look towards me.
“It will be a tough game, we know that. I thought they were brilliant last week when we played them.
“We can’t under estimate them this time, maybe we did last week but we know what we are going there to do and if we perform like that we can get the job done.
“They will be up for it and we need to be too. We can’t look any further than Monday, we need to do a professional job and hopefully go through to the next round.”