Gillingham head coach Stephen Clemence hopes their weekend victory was just the start of better times ahead.
The Gills head into this weekend sitting a point and a place outside the play-off spots in League 2 following their 3-1 win over Salford City last Saturday.
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It was Clemence’s first home league match in charge of the Gills and a first three points, too, for the head coach.
Clemence spent the preceding week drumming into the players some of the ways he wants them to play and there were signs of progress in the win, particularly during the second half.
“It was a good win but hopefully just the start of things, we need to get a few more now,” said Clemence.
“I have said that I want us to play more football but I want to win games and there are different ways to win. You have to take what the opposition give you.
“If the opposition are going to press you high up the pitch then you have to go over that. I am not afraid to play a bit more direct at times and play into channels and into the number nine a bit earlier.
“You have to take what the opposition give you, we did that against a good Salford side who had been in good form.
“You could see some of the stuff that we had been working on at the training ground and when you see that as a coach that is probably where the addiction to coaching comes from.
“You see the lads are taking on board what you are trying to teach or show them, how you want to play and when they carry that out and you get moments when you help the team and score goals, or help them score them, that is where my addiction comes from. I saw plenty of that.”
The Gills scored three goals in a league game for the first time this season, taking their goal tally to 17, now level with Harrogate as the lowest scorers in the division.
Clemence said: “The boys have to take full credit for the performance, they have been under a lot of pressure this season. Everybody is telling them they are not scoring goals and that is not easy to deal with as a player, confidence starts to dip.
“What I am hoping is that gives them a shot in the arm of confidence and we can spring forward from this.
“I am proud of the players. They have taken on new ideas over the last couple of weeks and I am starting to see progress with that and their attitude has been fantastic.
“We will only ever achieve anything if we are all together, as fans, players, staff and the board. I think if we all stay on that same page, we all want the same thing, then we have a great chance.”
Gillingham are heading into another busy period as they travel to lowly Tranmere this Saturday before hosting AFC Wimbledon at Priestfield on Tuesday night.
Last weekend saw striker Ashley Nadesan return from injury, a welcome boost for the manager who handed Tom Nichols his first start in more than a month and was rewarded by seeing him score one of the goals in the 3-1 win.
Clemence said: “I thought it was time to give somebody else a chance but if we are going to be successful this season then everyone is going to be needed. We haven’t got a massive squad, everyone is going to play their part.”
Oli Hawkins is also closing in on a return, having not featured at all this season due to a heel injury.
Clemence added: “Hopefully he gets back to training. I am not sure he will be available for the weekend but we will have some good options, certainly going forward.”
