Connor Smith praises Gills efforts after losing 1-0 to Oldham at Boundary Park
Connor Smith says if the side play as well as they did at Oldham for the rest of the season then the Gills will get enough points to reach their end of season target.
Smith started at Boundary Park on Saturday and was one of many visiting players to have efforts well saved by goalkeeper Mark Oxley, who proved the difference between the two sides on the day as he kept a clean sheet in a 1-0 home win.
Speaking after the game he said: “I think we started a lot better than them and created numerous chances, in the first half especially. To be fair to them it was a great finish and their goalkeeper was unbelievable, two stops [near the end of the game].
“One from Bayo and then Cody at the end. He also made saves in the first half from Joe Pigott and myself.
“To come this far, play that well and not get a result we are all devastated to be honest. The way we played we deserved more.
“We played some great football, probably the best since I’ve been here. In the first half especially and we should really have put them to bed but it wasn’t to be with their goalkeeper in such good form.
“But if we keep performing like this then there is no doubt we will get enough wins and climb back up the table.
“To make six changes and still go out and play that well shows the strength of the squad and you could change a few more with the lads that were on the bench.”
Peter Taylor was full of praise for Connor’s efforts and said he was playing in the role that best suits him.
He said: “He’s had to play slightly out of position and the reason we signed him is because he’s a three man midfield player – that’s what he does at Watford and hopefully that’s what he will do here a bit more.
“A lot of the times since he’s been here we played 4-4-2 and he has played a little bit wide because we have had injuries to the wide players and he’s helped us out a little bit.
“We played 4-3-3 and we’ve done that before, we did that away at Sheffield United and got a result so I’m a firm believer that away from home it’s a good system.”