Gillingham head coach Stephen Clemence has warned his men that they could become a “nearly team” if they don’t start taking their chances.
The Gills lost their 12th game of the season on Saturday after another disappointing afternoon in front of goal at MK Dons. They went down 2-1, despite having the better of the chances.
Clemence’s side are creating more opportunities but still aren’t converting. They are at home to mid-table Walsall this Saturday, knowing the play-off chase is at least still on.
But Clemence warned: “If we don’t start taking more of them (chances) then we might be a team that’s just a nearly team, a team that’s got good players and can have an effect on a game, but if we want to do anything we have to start taking those chances.
“It takes hard work, effort and organisation and we are all in this together. I am in there with them and right by their side and I believe in them, but there comes a point where you have to start taking some more of those opportunities.
“I don’t want to be top of the XG (expected goals) league, which we probably are for the last five or six games, definitely top three or four. We need to start scoring more goals.
“I have told the boys what I think. We have to start taking some of those opportunities and when we are putting teams under that amount of pressure (as they were at MK Dons) then you have to capitalise. That is what good teams do.
“I believe I have got good players at the football club, I really do. I believe in this group but we’ve got to start delivering and when they get those opportunities they have to take responsibility and put the ball in the back of the net.
“That’s not just the forwards, it’s everybody. We have to put the ball in the back of the net, otherwise, we’ll be a nearly team.”
Clemence’s switch in formation to wing-backs has helped create more chances from out wide, with balls into the box, aided by the addition of specialist crosser Remeao Hutton.
The Gills added pacey forward Josh Walker to the squad last week – on loan from League 1 Burton – and he scored on his debut at MK Dons, netting from close range after the home keeper failed to hold Tim Dieng’s headed effort.
Any kind of goal is welcome right now.
“It was great for Josh to come in and score on his debut,” said the head coach. “That was obviously a plus.
“We only score one goal a game on average and we have to start taking that up. It is not as if stuff isn’t being created now, which is good, that is an improvement.”
