Gillingham boss Mark Bonner will be hoping a draw at Swindon is the start of their revival – even if it didn’t feel like that after last Saturday’s match.
The Gills head into this Saturday’s FA Cup game against League 1 Blackpool in poor form, with just one point from their six league games during October.
Even that point against their old rivals came after playing against 10 men for most of the game, letting in an equaliser on 93 minutes as the match ended 1-1.
Bonner said: “At some point, you step back and go, ‘okay, we’ve drawn a line under the defeats. We’ve got a point’.
“The game was there for us, really, and the opportunity early on with the sending-off and then scoring the goal and getting complete control of the game. We needed a bit more to really make that count.
“We did have some good chances and, yes, that’s what happens if you don’t take them.”
Bonner switched formation for the match, starting with a back three for the first time. With left-back Max Clark missing, he utilised Jayden Clarke as a wing-back and brought Shad Ogie in as a left-sided centre-half.
Bonner said: “We could have played Shad at left-back in the back four, as we have done before, but we felt like we wanted to be as strong as possible.
“We felt like we wanted bodies defensively to deal with Harry Smith (who scored the equaliser) and, lo and behold, at the end it doesn’t help us.
“We felt like it was a good way of getting a mobile forward, and a target player high up the pitch. We felt like it would allow us to lock them in and match the numbers in midfield. It’s a system a lot of the boys have played a lot of times.
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“Sometimes when you’re on the run that we are for results, you just need to change something and match the moment that you’re in a little bit, regardless of whether that’s how you really want to play or not.
“You just have to find a way. If we hold on and don’t concede the goal or score the second one and win it, it’s a great decision. You’re only right if you win, really, I guess.
“We went home bruised and I’m gutted for the lads because I thought they’d actually given lots in the game to be right there about to take the three points.
“I’m gutted for the supporters who came in a great number and got right behind us and are desperate to see us turn the results around. We were about 10 seconds away from doing it.”
Blackpool arrive sitting 16th in the division above with four wins in 13 games so far this season.
They drew 2-2 at home to Wigan on Monday night and, like the Gills, had a winless October – picking up just two points in five matches.
The visitors are managed by former Gillingham and Manchester United defender Steve Bruce, but he’s missed their last three games on compassionate leave following the sudden death of his four-month-old grandson Madison.
