Mark Bonner was pleased with how his Gillingham side opened their 2024/25 campaign on Saturday.
Gills clinched a 4-1 win over Carlisle with Jacob Wakeling and Jack Nolan scoring on their debuts.
Despite what seemed a convincing win on paper, Bonner admits that there are plenty of things to still work on, with Saturday's visitors causing the Gills plenty of problems throughout.
In a game that saw four different goal scorers, the 38-year-old was delighted with the types of goals that his side scored during a clinical display.
With a quick turnaround to the Carabao Cup First Round fixture against Swansea City on Tuesday night, Bonner provided a preview of what to expect ahead of the game, as well as an injury update on Conor Masterson and Tim Dieng.
Thoughts on the game...
We are really pleased because I think it is a tough, tough team and a tough first game on a difficult afternoon in terms of weather. We have had one or two that have played today that we have pushed into the team, and have had to change things around with the profile of our number 9s recently. The boys have dug in and found a really good level at times in the game. We had moments where we found it difficult, obviously, against a good side.
If you offered us this at the start of the day, we would have been chewing your arm off for it. It is a really good start for us.
There was lots to like in the performance and loads to know that we can get better at. I am certainly delighted with the goals that we scored.
The scoreline makes that sound more comfortable than it was. It was really tough for us in the first-half. It was really tough for us for a period in the second-half. Once we got the third, it became a bit of a different game and became a bit more comfortable for us. I thought that we started fast and finished really strong.
The goals...
[Tim Dieng's goal] - It was off a long throw and bouncing in the box, which is exactly where he's dangerous. He's got goals around the 18-yard box in him, and he's tucked it away nicely.
[Jacob Wakeling goal] - I thought Jacob's finish was outstanding. It is exactly what he can do. He has got to get physical against centre halves, against three big ones. It was a tough game for him in that sense, but I thought he took his goal brilliantly.
[Jack Nolan and Jonny Williams' goals] - Jack Nolan's was excellent. He nearly had another one, but I really liked his one. Jonny's strike on the edge of the box was class. I'm really happy with the types of goals that we scored.
Injury Updates...
[On Conor Masterson] - Conor's just got a bit of tendinitis in his Achilles. The pitch is really hard at the moment, so we are just managing him through. He will be fine as the pitches soften up. There is no problem there.
[On Tim Dieng ]- Timmy felt his hamstring in the first-half, so we hope that he has caught that early enough. We got him out in the second-half, but as soon as he made one run, he knew that he could not open up. Hopefully, that settles and isn't too bad, but that is natural.
Swansea in midweek...
I think that a lot of the boys that haven't played today will play. We will definitely get minutes into them; otherwise they're too far away from their last big minutes in pre-season, so in one sense it is an extension of pre-season for us to get those players fit and up to speed because we need them.
It is a tough game, and we know that.
It is also an opportunity for us to go and test ourselves in an unbelievable stadium against a top team. It will be what it will be. We will have a right good go at it, and we will see how much of the ball we can have and see how difficult we can make it for them when they have got it.
We will use it as a sensible day's work for some in terms of trying to get 45 into a few; it will definitely be a five-sub game for us, and we will try and make sure that everyone is in the best health possible for next Saturday, but we will have a go in trying to get through in the cup as well.
The captaincy...
Max Ehmer is the club captain, and Armani Little is the vice-captain.
Max has unbelievable experience. He knows the place inside and out. He knows how to get himself ready for 46 games, and he has a good understanding and knowledge of the level. He represents the boys with the club very well and speaks publicly, no problem. He is a really good foil for me to speak to and get a lean on and experience on.
I am impressed with how he has come back physically, and he has worked really well in pre-season.
Armani Little is infectious, a fighter, a personality, and a worker. He is everything that we want in our players, so he is a great example to everybody. There are plenty of other lads that can step up and lead, but they will be the main two for the armband duties.
