Gillingham manager John Coleman addressed the media following the 1-0 defeat to Doncaster Rovers at the MEMS Priestfield Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Luke Molyneux scored the only goal of the game, capitalising on a loose back pass just after the half-hour. Coleman was happy with his side's efforts during the opening 25 minutes, believing that the goal changed the complexion of the game.
Asher Agbinone made his Gillingham debut and impressed his new manager with his efforts. Coleman also addressed the signing of Nelson Khumbeni and offered an injury update.
Thoughts on the game...
I thought we were fantastic for the first 25 minutes. Unfortunately, we didn't score in that period, and the big problem that we have got, and has historically plagued Gillingham for two years, is the lack of goals. For all that pressure, did we make enough chances? Probably not. We made a couple of good chances that we would have liked to have taken.
We presented them with a goal, and the balance of the play changed a little bit. I thought we were too guilty of going backwards at the end of the first-half. The second-half got very bitty. It was very stop-start. We couldn't really get a head of steam up.
Whatever the scoreline was, I still think that there is room for improvement. I know that there is room for improvement, and we will continue to work on it. I can see the change in the ethos of how I want us to play was very similar to successful sides that I have had in the past. We have got to get that mentality of scoring goals. It has got to come more naturally to us, and I don't think that it is at the moment.
Asher Agbinone's debut...
There were signs there of young Asher [Agbinone] exciting the fans. It's great when a player gets the ball, and the fans start cheering. I think that once he gets his head around playing League Two football, he can be an exciting asset for us.
He's still getting a handle on the game, and it's a different style of football playing League Two instead of Under 21's and Premier League Two. Being in and around the first-team is a totally different sport. I think that he has got the ability to handle it.
Needing to improve...
I'd like to see us attack more. I'd like to see us go forward a bit more, and I'd like to see us eliminate going back to the keeper a lot more. We have got to cross out the elementary mistakes. If you go through the last 12 goals that we have conceded as a club, probably nine of them are down to individual errors, so that's something we have got to try and eliminate as well. Players don't do it on purpose.
Injury update...
We lost Marcus Wyllie, and we lost Josh Andrews in the space of four days. Oli Hawkins is just getting back to fitness, so we couldn't risk him. Nev (Elliott Nevitt) was struggling with his groin, so we wouldn't have wanted to take him off normally, so we have got a lack of strikers.
Josh went for a scan yesterday, and we will await the results of that. Marcus might be about six weeks.
On the signing of Nelson Khumbeni...
He's a good footballer. He's young, and he has still got growth and improvement in him. He handles the ball well, and he is a good forward passer. I'd like to say he has an eye for the goal because I've seen him score a couple of great goals, but he is a proper footballer, and the fans will love him.
