Defender hoping a positive result at Accrington can spark a good run.
Connor Ogilvie sees this weekend’s Sky Bet League One fixture with in-form promotion–chasing Accrington Stanley as the ideal test for Gillingham. The Kent side make the long journey north expecting a tough game but Gills’ battling-defender believes that if his team can prove their ability against Accrington then they will be prepared for any challenge.
Ogilvie spoke to the local press via Zoom ahead of the match to discuss preparations for the game, comings and goings at the club and playing football in these strange times.
Covid
“When the pandemic first hit it was a shock, we didn’t see it coming. We missed football when we didn’t have it.
“We do whatever we can do to help fight this virus. The pandemic that we are in, everyone has to do it right with testing and social distancing. It’s not the most exciting life but at least we are still playing football and are able to go out there and enjoy it.”
Working hard
“The main objective as a team is that we want to win. We want to get results. It hasn’t happened recently but hopefully we can change that at the weekend. I will always help out if I can. If that means helping one of the youngsters, I’ll always do my best.
“We have been working hard on the training ground as a team. We are just trying to turn the results around, take our chances and keep a clean sheet. We have been working hard on organisation as a team, especially with new faces coming in. That’s been the main focus of the week.
“It will only take three or four good results and we could be right back in the mix of it. We need to work hard and get the results and hopefully start looking upwards.”
Ins and outs
“We are building relationships. There have been a few new faces coming in and I’m pretty sure there will be a few more.
“It is part and parcel of football, people come in and out and you often see new faces. The loan players that we had who have now gone have been quality players and I’m sure the ones coming in will be quality players too.
“The Southampton boys in the past have been excellent, they have a great set up down there. You can tell by the likes of the players they have brought through in the past, like Bale and Walcott. We are very happy to have the three Southampton loan players at Gillingham.”
Best position
“I get asked the question about my best position a lot. As long as I am playing football and enjoying it I’ll do a job wherever I am put, whether that be left back or centre back. I will always do my job to the best of my ability wherever I play on the pitch.”
Accrington on Saturday
“We are not on the best run at the minute but we just need to dig in as a group. No one else can change this except us, it has to come from within us. Hopefully we can go to Accrington and get a result which will get us out of the bad form we are in.
“This is a perfect game for us as Accrington are doing well. If we can put in a good performance we can go into other games with a lot more confidence. If we want to be able to climb the table we want to be beating teams no matter where they are or what form they are in.
“Accrington have a good energy about them and we know what they are about. We need to go there and impose our game and take our chances when they come. Hopefully we can keep a clean sheet and get a result.
“We need to take the game to them. We want to go to Accrington and start a run. Football is all about getting a win.”