Gillingham manager Gareth Ainsworth was pleased with what he saw from his team, as they drew 1-1 with Colchester United on Tuesday night.
Colchester took the lead in controversial fashion, but the Gills controlled the fixture throughout. Ainsworth believed they should have gotten more from the game, adding that there were some great moments from his side.
Max Clark scored the equaliser from the penalty spot, and Jonny Williams was named the ‘Sponsors’ Man of the Match’. The Gills boss spoke about both players.
It was Ainsworth’s first game in charge at the MEMS Priestfield Stadium, and the 51-year-old spoke highly of his first experience in the home dugout.
Praise for the players and the building blocks…
How has it finished 1-1!? I thought that the boys were fantastic. I thought the fans were fantastic. To put in place this early what I have asked them to do - a little bit of organisation, a little bit of structure and a little bit of an identity, which we want to get to. We want to get to this place. They have taken the messages on really well.
I thought that every single one of them was superb. It’s really early days, so I’m not going to say that we’ve solved anything at all, but it gives me so much belief and hope that this team can achieve at some stage. It needs building; we need building.
I see the start of some good moves, and if we can just put the finishing touch on things, then I think that we could have blown them away.
Let’s not get carried away. We’re 19th in the table. There’s a reason for that as well, but it’s a great performance. It’s the first game at home, and it buoys the fans. I think that the fans can see now what I’m trying to bring and hopefully, they are going away thinking that we deserved more than that.
Discussing the performance…
There were some great moments and we will go through them. The review of the game will be longer than usual because there is that much good stuff to see. I think that we had 19 shots at goal tonight and 63% possession. People are going to start talking about me because I’m not billed as that manager, but with this team, I certainly want to be billed as that manager because if we keep playing like that, I think that we can pick up many points.
The football was great, and I am pleased that the crowd have seen that … but I can say that team tonight was a team that I will put my name to. I was really proud of them.
On Max Clark…
I think that Max has really bought in, and he’s a voice in the dressing room. As I said on Saturday, I’m really glad that I picked him and picked a penalty taker because the two goals that we have scored have been penalties and he took it really well.
On Jonny Williams…
All I will say is that the sponsors know their football. He was outstanding in that midfield, and I think again, Jonny is one that has grabbed hold of this new lease and this new way of doing things.
The boys are organised, and they know what they’re coming into every day. It’s positive, it’s energetic and it’s organised. They’re coming in every day and they’re appreciating that, and are happy with that. Jonny is an experienced guy, he has played at an international level and played at some top levels.
I’d love to add more goals to his game, but when he plays like that in the middle of the park, I think we buzzed off him. He was responsible for getting that ball back and controlling a lot of the possession.
The supporters and atmosphere…
The staff said to me that you’re going to love the Last Waltz before the game, and being a musician myself, they were very in tune. They were very loud, and it was brilliant. It does give you that moment where you’re thinking, ‘Wow, this is us.’ I want to join into that and be a part of that.
As billed, they sucked that ball into the back of the net, and we’re going to need them. Now the weather is turning, come down and get behind us. Enjoy what will be a good end to the season. Ultimately, it’s the journey that I want them to join and get on board.
It’s really powerful when they get behind you here. It’s a cracking stadium. It’s an old on top of you stadium. Fans you can hear. They’re great. They really are great.
