Latest / Blood, Sweat & Gills / Voice Notes: Gillingham 1-1 Northampton Town
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- Simon Head: Welcome to Joe's 365 voice notes. Please leave your after the The interest today will be to see how our new loan signing seller from Knott's Forest performs. Looks to have that kind of pace that we all crave for. But there's always going to be that worry, youngster, can he survive in the kind of brutality that can be leaked to? I suppose the only way to find out will be this afternoon and how he responds to what will be the inevitable. first hard physical challenge on him. But we go today in hope rather than expectation. I think we will win. I don't think it'll be pretty. I think it's either going to be a kind of a one-nil or two-one, but not for the purists. And I think the weather will be in keeping with the game. We're not at the point where this game must win because we're came in. But if we don't win our first two home games and obviously we've flat withdrawn, away one. If we start the season on two points or one point from three games and especially if we don't score today I could see fans starting to turn. ⁓ Probably being maybe slightly overly dramatic, but honestly, we need to win today. And I feel like we need to win by more than one goal. If we could win this two nil and come away from it where we all think, yes, things have changed, that would be perfect. A couple of hours to go now till kickoff, and I'm looking forward to being back at Priestfield for the first time this season and the first time since probably about February, March last year. Didn't go to... Fair few games towards the back end of last season due to a variety of issues. Joining the darksiding referee and being one of them taking up a lot of time. So looking forward to being back today, albeit going off social media comments is not the most positive place right now. I think the important thing for myself today, a bit of an outsider looking in, in a way, like I said, not being much, don't know too much in regards to current squad players and new signings is Just that we get that first win under our belt. No matter how it happens, it might not be the most pretty of games and a first-seer game where it probably isn't going to be pleasing on the eye. But the important thing is we get them three points, even if it deflects off someone's rear end and goes in. That's all that matters from today. I think if we don't pick up the three points at home, then the pressure starts to probably mount a bit more on Ainsworth. And it would be a... kind of role reversal from the last few seasons, I guess, where we started off at a canter and then fell away October, November time. Whereas this year, so far, haven't won, haven't scored. So hopefully we can reverse that today and it'd be good to be back in the ground. Here we go in match day three, home to Northampton. Feeling quite optimistic. We'll see how I feel at five o'clock. positives, we should hopefully see Ollie Wright today. I'm expecting Colin McManus coming up left wing back. Should hopefully see left from Nottingham Forest or where we will start, I'm not very sure. Just hope to really continue the positivity. If you can call it that, maybe 10 or so of these shots in it will work into goals and hopefully at five o'clock we should be back in three points, but let's wait and see. All right, we're in the ground for Gills versus Northampton. First thing to find out is that Zayn Alboros is not in the squad. I assume he's and that we haven't sold him already. That would be quite the story. But we're going to miss him in the middle of the pitch. He has been excellent for us so far this season. Harry Woldock will come in and will partner Robbie McKenzie in the middle of midfield. Connor McManus will play left wing back in place of the injured Kadim Harris. And let's see how we can do. Northampton Town. Don't think I've won a game since February. They haven't scored this season yet, nor have we. Surely something's got to give today. We've had a lot of rain today. The white line has been out on the pitch trying to redo the lines on the pitch. The ground's been doing some good work here. The pitch, by the way, looks like an absolute snooker table. Lovely surface out there. But we'll see how things go during the match. If we can get a couple of goals and get our season off and underway. we can get a little bit of positivity back. Oli Wright starts in goal for the Gills. There's a positive note to kick the afternoon off. So let's see how it goes. And a word for the new signing, Lameen Silla. He's on the bench today, so we'll see if he makes an impact off the bench later on this afternoon. Cautiously optimistic, I would say. It's hard to tell whether this is going to just be an absolutely crazy game of football or whether it's just going to be a typically tight. low quality League 2 game that's going to be separated by one goal if we see one. It's Gills versus Northampton. It's rainy, it's miserable, but hopefully we'll all be happy by the end of it. So Gills, Northampton today and if you're looking for goals the form book strongly advises against this one. Both sides have only got one point and they're opening two league games of this season and neither team have scored so... as four league matches and precisely zero goals between them. But Northampton have actually failed to score in all of the four of their competitive games so far. it's the gold fest doesn't look likely, but you never know. But for Gills, they were encouraging signs at Fleetwood. Gets a clean sheet. We did it at the woodwork twice. And you know, it's one of those games where both teams could have won it, they would argue. So Mature probably is the right result. Northampton obviously just come down from League One and they conceded the highest amount of goals in the division last season for 74. So that could to a certain extent go into our favour but we have not beaten Northampton at Breesfield since 2016. So hopefully we can change that one today. The injury situation at Gilles is pretty rough. know losing Khadim Harris at Fleetwood was a real blow. Sorry for the guy and hope he gets... recovery quickly or as quickly as possible but we have got Lameen Salah who could make his debut today down from Nottingham Forest. I worked with a ⁓ Forest fan and he was very excited to tell me that this is a very good player, good potential and a good loan deal for Gillingham and he's also excited to see how this guy develops. just hope that he hasn't got the curse of coming to Gillingham and getting injured himself but let's not talk about that. Let's actually be positive and see what we can get out of this this youngster, Salah. It feels like today that the first goal is going to be the decisive one. First goal wins game. I'm going to kind of coin it as. But I'm going to go for a gilling of one. I think we're going to beat Northampton today 2-0. Wanted to a break here. Very frustrating to be fair because for 34, 35 minutes we dominated proceedings. Northampton didn't really offer a lot and then they've had a decent strike. Towards the end of the half, we're not hanging on by all means, but Northampton then seem to grow a little bit into the game after that. From our perspective, Brophy looks a real fine for this level. Like I said earlier, I've not seen any pre-season or any of the games so far, but he just looks that cut above. Need to get him on the ball more. And yeah, I don't think anyone's had a bad game so far. It's just really frustrating that... If you watched that first 34, 35 minutes, it didn't look like Northampton would go into break level at all. But I just hope that we can kick on second half now and go get that win because the performance for that first, majority of that first part, I deserve the three points so far. The only concern from a student's perspective is the fact that Mackenzie's probably on his last warning after an early yellow and probably a tackle that deserved a yellow in the 10th minute. Yeah, the sensible thing would be to sub him before he will get reduced to 10 men. But other than that, I've got no real concern so far. Let's hope we go and nick these points in the second half. Just straightened into the half after what was a really decent performance for probably 35 minutes. The goal we scored was really, really good. I we were getting the right people on the ball in the right areas. The likes of Nick Freeman, James Brophy, Will Goodwin and Ronan Howell were causing problems. and then the goal for me is luck. Omar Beckles makes a brilliant block and then to be fair to the lad Logan Briggs it's a good finish but yeah unfortunate and at this point you think are we cursed a little bit but yeah encouraging stuff again going towards the rain I'm in second half fingers crossed we've got enough to get this one over the line. This half time is 1-1 and I think we could consider ourselves a little bit unlucky that it's 1-1 at the break. We've played some really good stuff, we've got the ball down well, we've spread the play, full width of the pitch, we've looked good on both sides, both wings. Scored a really lovely goal, both wing backs combined, a great deep cross from Nick Freeman. Well-timed run from Connor, but Manus and a very, very good header. It was all looking good and unfortunately a little bit unlucky with the Northampton goal they had a little bit of a period of pressure great block from Omar Beckles flattened him but the ball just fell straight straight to their player he puts it in the top corner good finish this one on but a lot of positivity but Manus looks really really good in that left wing back slot he's gonna take some shifting now Brophy is all over the park just dictating play Will Goodwin's in the middle of a running battle with their centre halves which he's doing alright he could do with a a bit more ball to feet but he's doing okay. Just need to get a few more chances for Ronan Hale but overall a lot more positives and negatives as they go in at half time so fingers crossed they come out for the second half and build on that. Get themselves a second goal and maybe go for a third. Try and put this lot to bed in the second half but positive stuff. was positive last time we were here. This time we've actually got the goal. We've proved that we can get the goal. and we just need to keep plugging away. I wouldn't be surprised if we saw La Mince Silla probably for the last 20 minutes or so but we'll see how it goes in this second half but all in all, one all may be little bit harsh on us. half time and it's one up. It could be a chance here and it's a goal! And it's the first one of the season and it's scored by McManus out of all people as well and Gilles have found the first goal of this season. Gilles has got a free kick in a very dangerous position about 24 yards out, it's Haywan Broby standing there, Haywan's going to take the shot, he takes it, ⁓ and he's just at the roof of the net, that is a great free kick. One more time on the right side, Gilles didn't well, team out before, he's going to cut inside and... Looks to get the ball into the box, that's a great turn and a blocked shot there by... ⁓ and there's a goal by Northampton and that's really well put away in the end and they've managed to get the cells to equalise. It was initially blocked by Beckles. ...and he's to pick it up and he's done well there to beat Evans, he's got a great opportunity to put a decent ball in the box, he cuts inside, takes the shot himself and there is an argument to be said there. that he really should be finding a jiu-jitsu in the six yard box. Finished 1-1 here, two points massively dropped. Second half, there wasn't a lot from both sides to be fair. James Brophy with the closest effort ⁓ after some good wing play. Keepers made a good save onto the bar. Yeah, really frustrating, especially after that first 35 minutes. But second half, side really deserved it. ⁓ frustrating because we should be getting three points at home in my opinion especially against a side like Northampton who's the word of all confidence at the moment but it is what it is. James Brophy deservedly man of the match, sponsored man of the match which I agree with. looked really bright. Looking forward to seeing him throughout the season. think incredible efforts as well for Logan Dobbs. I thought he was absolutely fantastic at centre back today, nice and strong. Looks a a good talent there but I think the biggest takeaway from this is that it's two points dropped at home. I thought we offered nothing in that second half. I really don't understand why Ainsworth has taken the decision to bring them lads on an 81-minute or what has he done that way. The game was really open to nothing, it needed a spark and he just sat there. I don't really get it. I don't know what he saw from 45 to 80 minutes and made me think the al-Qaeda's team is just very, very poor at the moment. I'm not really into it better than last year at the moment. Obviously there's people out injured. I don't the data said to us but yeah, that one was particularly very good was it? Two points all season, 1.6 at home. I do fear for us. I'm not going to lie to you. I'm trying to not be too dramatic but we ain't going up this year I don't think. Just walking back to the car now after the game. Frustrating afternoon, exhaled the positives. A point, we didn't lose, we scored a goal. I thought both young Warlock and Dobs played incredibly well. They're such young players. Didn't look out of place either of them. Did we do enough as a home side to get all three points? I don't think we did. For me, think the substitutions came too late. I think the game was there to be won and the subs should have been made 10 minutes, 15 minutes earlier. But you get to the stage where it's probably more important not to lose the game. I thought the wind disrupted the game second half. It really picked up, made the point difficult. Overall, just a sense of frustration really. think Northampton Town were great. Don't look to be a side you're to be challenging at the top and decide who you would think have been in full will have beaten but wasn't to be. It's a point and it's on to the next game. Just got out of the race field, won one. Probably a fair result over the course of the 90 minutes but... You feel like we played the more positive football but second half once that wind got up and was swirling around the stadium very very hard to create chances. Brophy was probably the best of the bunch cutting in from the right hand side hitting a shot that looked like he was heading for the roof of the net but keeping him in a good save but other than that very very hard to create chances despite the effort that was being put in and we had to content ourselves with a 1-0 draw. Still waiting for that first win but at least we're off the mark when it comes to putting the ball in the net. Very well worth a goal from us. managed getting the goal. But yeah, more positivity without the positive result. Maybe we should have made the changes a little bit earlier but that's maybe been a little bit picky but one-one draw and we move on. So post-match thoughts, the optimism from the start soon deteriorated. Plus 35, dare I say it, we scored early. It's a good goal, good ball from Vyfrenin. Really terrible at Manus. We've been in control of the game for 35 minutes. Conceited goal, which I don't know we could do a great deal about. It's a block that just falls nicely for them. But then the next hour, it fell a flat again to me. Both feet. had a really good chance where he ran half a length of pitch almost inside outside, keeper turned that away. Otherwise there wasn't a lot of note really in the second half. Shame really, it feels like two points dropped. But we scored a goal, we haven't lost. Yeah, we move on to Tuesday. Just about to walk in the front door after today's draw at the Mems Priestfield Stadium. Yeah, second half. We probably had the better chance again, didn't we? That was the James Brophy one. Don't think Eva-Keaton has been fully extended. I felt like we missed a trick in the final 15 minutes in terms of decision-making being slightly off. I can understand the substitutions, but did they make us better? Probably not. But that's not through anybody's fault. That's the fact that you're bringing on. three people that have not played together at all in Kendall, McCleary and Silla. But yeah, I just thought we were a bit slow in everything, taking throw-ins, free kicks, and everything just became a little bit predictable. But it's too unbeaten. We've scored a goal. We go to Chesterfield on Tuesday and still try and find that elusive first win. Well, you can kind of look at it from two perspectives and say, yeah, that's too unbeaten. That's what maybe an optimist would say, but the pessimists would also say we should be getting three points from that game. And Northampton were really there for the taking. And they were in the second half, but we just didn't. We just didn't improve. We didn't pounce the opportunity. And I do think we were a little bit scared to lose, actually. And that's where we kind of fell apart a little bit. And the subs came on a little bit too late as well. And it was a perfect position when that happened. accommodate for the substitutions as well. I just think it wasn't the way forward and yeah we've got the injuries I do think we'll grow into a decent team after we get a few through the door and the injuries come back but regardless that is a game I think we will look back on and go we could have got two more points from it and unfortunately it's just if they have mixed feelings about this one you know it's another point in the board but it's one that should be doing a lot better, but I was very impressed with Brophy. It's great to get a goal from McManus and the assist from Freeman was excellent and that's that ball in the box is really, really good. And considering some of the deliveries into those years last few seasons have not been great. It's nice to see that. Again, there are positive signs, but especially from the youngsters as well for Waldock was brilliant as well today. So, you know, there's those things that we can take from it. But my goodness me, that is that is really lost two points there. We really should be walking away with three. Just reflecting on today's game, thought it was a decent performance. It was my first home game other than the loop and the bar call. I thought it was a good performance. I thought we were really good. Really good football. We played up until they scored, which is I felt a really lucky goal. Three or four ricochets could have gone anywhere. fair play, they play a finish at Plom. Matt seemed to turn the game a bit. They got a bit more on top during then half time. think second half we were the better team. I can't think of anything to threaten them but they came here for that point and we just couldn't quite break them down. felt Hale had a really good chance but scuffed his shot. But other than that we didn't recreate too much more which was a frustration. was a shame that It felt like that front three kind of run out of steam. I feel Ainsworth could have maybe changed it a little bit earlier, but equally the three that came on kind of showed quite clearly either A, they weren't much fit or B, Klee barely had played any football together and were on the same wavelength. I get it's frustrating. I get we were probably one of the Northampton and had them one for 22 games, but It's a point we didn't lose. Let's move on. We're continually battling with injuries. I felt although Robert was walking a tightrope, losing him after 55 was difficult. Antoy clearly looked match rusty and I'm not really sure he's that kind of player to play in that centre midfield, but we had no other options. It is what it is. think we as fans have got to appreciate that. It was a decent performance. The players gave their all and we will improve when players get back.