Peter Taylor talks exclusively to the club's official website as the Gills boss reflects on Saturday's defeat to Oldham
Peter Taylor said he wasn’t disappointed with the performance against Oldham on Saturday, and believed the Gills would have got a result had it not been for the top class performance by Mark Oxley in the Latics goal.Gary Harkins secured all three points for Lee Johnson’s side courtesy of a powerful 33rd minute strike from a tight angle inside the penalty area, and despite numerous efforts on goal the Oldham keeper was alert when called upon to deny the Gills an equaliser.
Speaking to the club website Peter said: “There were a lot of people that didn’t see the game and might be thinking that I’m making it up that their keeper was their best player, but it’s nice to read in the Sunday papers that Lee Johnson said exactly the same.
“I don’t think he got Man of the Match but he deserved it. We were a little bit unlucky, our finishing was good – we hit the target which is all you ever ask for but their goalkeeper pulled off some very good saves and we couldn’t beat him.
“The performance was good; some of the Football we played in the first half was excellent. We created enough chances to win a match and if you do that away from home you can’t be doing that much wrong.”
Ryan Inniss, Danny Kedwell and Chris Whelpdale are the players currently on the treatment table, and Peter is doubtful if any of them will be available for the trip to Bristol City.
He added: “I still think Whelps is probably two weeks away again because of it – he aggravated a ligament injury that he had. We were hoping it was 100% cured but it wasn’t so it’s a shame because he’s had a frustrating time recently.
“All we can do is say forget about playing, get the treatment sorted out so we get it as strong as it can be so then when we do need him and he does come back he doesn’t fall down again.
“Keds will play in a development game at Luton Town on Wednesday and we will see how it goes.
“He’s trained with the first team for the last few days and done very well so who knows? He’s a very determined character and it’s great to have him back training with us because he’s such a winner and a noisy person to have around which is exactly what we need.
“Ryan’s is a grade one strain and it’s not as bad as we thought; at one time we thought it could be 4-6 weeks but then all of a sudden that’s gone down to 2-4 so we are still hopeful that he has a chance of playing in two weeks’ time which is what all of us want – healthy competition for places.
“Leon Legge came on for Ryan against Sheffield United and with the way he played against Oldham I think he has upped his game and I was really pleased with him.”
Gills do not have a midweek game this week which will give other teams the opportunity to put some points on the board, and the Manager admits he expects the league table to look a bit different prior to the weekend.
He said: “I think it will be much clearer tonight; unfortunately for us I think we are going to go down a couple of places because of teams catching up their games but at least it will be more of a reality check for our players and for everybody to see that we have done well but there is still a long way to go.
“Teams like Colchester and Crawley who have six or seven games in hand you fancy them to pick up some points, Crawley especially who had another outstanding win on Saturday at Walsall.
“Sheffield United are picking up now; they play Colchester and both those teams are below us. If they draw we probably stay in the same position but if one of them wins there is a fair chance we go down a place.
“I am happier with the majority of teams having played the same games, if not more than us.”
Watch Peter’s exclusive interview on Gills Player.