The pressure is mounting for Gillingham and head coach Stephen Clemence knows it.
Supporter frustration was evident at Priestfield on Boxing Day after a 2-0 defeat against Crawley Town. Strugglers Sutton United are next up tonight (Friday).
With just one point from their last three games, no goals scored and a fall to 14th place in League 2, Clemence knows the score.
He said: “I have been in the game a long time and I know that if you don’t win, you go a few games without three points and pressure builds.
“I understand that, but I know in the dressing room they are giving their all, they are trying to do their best, they are not setting out to go and draw at Forest Green and lose at home to Crawley, they are doing the best they can. I can see that, I see it every day on the training ground.
“I see a willingness from them to try and improve. I have to tell them when things aren’t right and I am prepared to do that, I have told them that, but I will support them, I will continue to do that.”
The Gills fans were hoping for a promotion push this season. It’s not too late – there are just four points between 14th place and the play-offs – but with 11 defeats already there needs to be a massive turn around in the second half of the season.
That’s the aim, with Clemence saying: “I came to this club to try and be successful. Being successful is definitely nearer the top end of the table.
“I don’t want to be mid-table or lower than that, that isn’t where I want us to be.
“Halfway point, plenty to improve on, but imagine if we do start scoring goals. We will have a great chance.
“We will keep working at it, keep trying to improve the players and we will keep trying to give them belief because it is difficult for them too, they do feel it and hopefully we can make some improvements and improve in the second half of the season.”
Gillingham had the better chances against Crawley but their inability to make it count proved costly once again.
Clemence is confident that another similar display will be good enough to see off a Sutton side who have conceded more than any other in League 2. It’s the division’s worst defence against the division’s worst attack.
The Gills head coach said: “If we play the way we did in the second half and can create those chances again then we will probably have two or three goals, unfortunately they haven’t gone in (against Crawley).
“The worrying thing is if you are not getting chances and then that is a problem but at least there were chances and if we can recreate them again in the next game then they will hopefully start going in.”
Visitors Sutton climbed off the bottom of the table on Boxing Day after beating Wimbledon 1-0 away. They recently sacked manager Matt Gray after an 8-0 defeat to leaders Stockport County.
The Gills beat Sutton 1-0 in the reverse fixture back in mid-August, a third successive single-goal victory at the start of the season that had seen them lead the division in the early weeks of the season.
Gillingham reach the halfway mark of their campaign 18 points adrift of leaders Stockport. They head into Friday’s game closer to the bottom of the table than the top.
