John Coleman’s wait for a win goes on but the Gillingham manager feels the tide is starting to turn.
The Gills faced fan fury after a disappointing loss at fellow League 2 strugglers Barrow earlier this month but there’s been back-to-back positive performances since then, against promotion-chasing sides Walsall and Crewe.
A goalless draw against Crewe at Priestfield last Saturday was another step in the right direction, but Gillingham are now 11 games without a league win, and Coleman’s taken charge of their last seven.
They’re back on the road this Saturday with a return to Cumbria and a match against bottom side Carlisle United.
“We’re trying to get better,” said Coleman. “I think most people can see that we’re improving. I think most people can see that the attitude’s improving. I think that’s probably the key to winning fans over.
“I keep saying this, but I’m a fan. I think like a fan and most importantly I think like a manager. I don’t try to pander to people, I don’t try to please people, but I think they (the fans) should get what they deserve.
“The minimum they deserve is the attitude of a player who’s going out and taking pride in the shirt. I think we’ve seen that in the last couple of games.
“I’m pleased with the response. I’m disappointed with the results [after back-to-back draws] because we should be sitting four points higher up the table. That’s the harsh reality, but you don’t always get what you deserve.
“I’ve never been one to shirk my responsibilities. I’ve never been one to curl up with a ball in the corner [but I] stick my chest out and come out fighting. I’ll do that until the day I die.
“We’ve got good characters at this club. It’s a terrific club. Great people work at the club as well. I’m not just saying that. It would be easy for me to say that.
“There’s people who care. There’s people who care everywhere in the club, working their socks off on a daily basis, not just on the football side of it, but to keep this club to be a commercial success and a viable option.
“I want to get more fans wanting to come to watch us because of the way we play. We’ll only do that with hard work. What has been served up to them, even while I’ve been here, hasn’t been good enough in my opinion, consistently.
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“We’re starting to turn the tide now. We are starting to serve up what they demand and they’re getting the minimum that we should expect but I think we’re also playing some decent football as well.”
With four draws and three losses, Coleman hasn’t picked up the wins he’d have wanted. He came in to try and revive Gillingham’s promotion hopes. There’s only a remote chance of that happening now.
But for Coleman, getting a first win on the board is something he can’t wait for.
“I’m desperate [for it],” he said. “I’d trample over my granny now for a win, I honestly would. We’ll keep going. We’ll keep fighting and we’ll make it our day by working hard.”
The Gills take on a Carlisle side who signed 11 players in the January transfer window and added another days afterwards in a desperate effort to get out of relegation trouble – their American owners chucking money at it just like the Galinsons did as Gillingham turned things around midway through the 2022/23 season.
Carlisle sacked their manager Mike Williamson just after the transfer window closed and appointed former Wales and Manchester United legend Mark Hughes as their new head coach.
Like Coleman, Hughes will be looking for his first win at his new club.
“It’s a long trip isn’t it!” joked the Gills boss. “I did get a geography O-Level so I do know where Gillingham is and I knew there was going to be a long travel. It’s never bothered me, to be honest. It’s part and parcel of football.
“We’re in a position where we can recover well, we can travel well, we can eat well. It’s just another game for me and we’ll do our best to try and win.”
