Newly-signed Gillingham winger Asher Agbinone is confident they can still mount a play-off challenge this season.
The Gills have lost four in a row without scoring but Agbinone was a bright spark in attack on Saturday – although even he couldn’t manage to hit the net in a 1-0 defeat to Doncaster Rovers.
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Gillingham head to Tranmere this weekend coming, sitting closer to the relegation places than the top seven but Agbinone hasn’t lost faith in achieving success this season during his loan stay.
He said: “I just want to help the team as much as possible, push for play-offs and get as high as possible, win games, get a win streak and help the team.
“We’ve got a great group, a lot of quality in the changing room.
“It did show in the game (on Saturday), particularly in that first half.
“We’ve got a lot of quality to beat teams that are higher up the table. Never say anything’s impossible.
“We didn’t take our chances (against Doncaster) but we’re working on that in training and we’ve definitely got the quality to score a lot of goals, it’ll happen in due time.”
Agbinone’s on loan from Crystal Palace and was handed his debut straight away, starting the game.
He said: “The gaffer’s been excellent since the first day I spoke to him in training and he’s told me the style of play he wants to play and he’s definitely implemented that in training, getting us working hard and playing the right way.
“We just need to trust it, stick with it and it’ll definitely happen.
“I’d say the first half, before the goal, we were definitely the better side. We dug in, worked very hard.
“They couldn’t get out of their own half for the first 20, 30 minutes. We had them on the ropes. We just needed to take our chances, but it’ll come.
“Just a bit more conviction, you know, could change the game.
“We’ll go back into training and work on that stuff and make sure that we make it right for the next game against Tranmere.”
Agbinone had made two Premier League appearances off the bench this season, at Nottingham Forest and against Fulham at Selhurst Park.
Now he’s made his first Football League start and hopes the goals will come soon.
He said: “I just like to excite fans, get them off their seats and make chances and obviously try and get goals and assists for the team.
“Although that didn’t happen (on Saturday) I’ll definitely make it happen next game.
“I just need to keep working, keep plugging away and it’ll happen.
“I loved it. The fans they were excellent. Stick with us, we’ll make it happen. It’s a difficult time for us right now, but we’ll definitely come out the other side on top.”
Settling in at Gillingham has been helped by experienced midfielder Jonny Williams – a player Agbinone remembers fondly from his time as a Palace junior.
“He’s a top player and an even better person,” said the 19-year-old.
“He’s helped me settle in well. He’s been there for me on and off the pitch. I can even learn a lot from him.
“He just told me from day one, he’s here to support me and help me, and it did really make me feel more comfortable and at home. I appreciate him for that.”
Agbinone remembers a speech Williams gave the young Palace hopefuls when he was younger.
He said: “He gave a speech to my age group, (when) I was with the under-13s, and then when I played against him in the Trophy (for Palace against the Gills earlier this season), I went up to him and I told him about it, but I don’t think he remembered!
“He said (at the time) to keep working hard, stay focused, never think you’ve made it, no matter how well you’ve done or whatever, and just keep going, it’s a long journey.”
