Gillingham manager Gareth Ainsworth was pleased to see his side adapt quickly on Tuesday after a hasty change of plan.
The Gills picked up a point – a fourth straight draw under Ainsworth – and the manager was pleased to see how adaptable the players were and how they gave their all once again.
Report: Chesterfield 1 Gillingham 1
Elliott Nevitt put the Gills ahead in the first half before Chesterfield came back strongly in the second to score a deserved equaliser.
Ainsworth said: “Another draw! I was really, really pleased with the boys. I know it’s four draws, but it’s been three away trips, overnight trips, against tough teams.
“We’ve really messed up a few play-off charges with Chesterfield and Salford and Colchester at home, and that home game, how we didn’t win it. That would have been a cracking start.
“The boys are now realising what I’m all about, what I expect on a pitch. They are absolutely giving everything.
“We had a formation and we worked on it from the video. We’ve had no time on the grass because of this fixture schedule. They took the information from the video in brilliantly.
“We changed (formation) just before kick-off because I thought Chesterfield had changed. But as it happens, they hadn’t. So, we changed back to our original plan. I was screaming ‘original plan’ onto the pitch and the boys adapted so well.
“We really took the first half to them. I thought we were a better team. I thought we controlled the ball better. We had some great chances in the first half, and we frustrated them.
“Second half, when they kick towards their home end, it’s just like us at home kicking to the Rainham End. The fans are behind them.
“They’re going to come at you. Paul Cook (the Chesterfield manager) gambled and chucked a load of players up there, leaving one on one (at he back).
“There was a moment where if Joe Gbode is not so honest, I think there could have been a red card coming out, because he was clean through and he’s getting dragged back but his tenacity and his willingness to stay on his feet is brilliant to see. It really is.
“I’m not an advocate of getting anyone sent off, but if he’d have clipped Joe, I think he might have been in trouble.
“Chesterfield really came out well in the second half. They’ve been together for three years, their squad. That’s what you get, that style of play, that real togetherness that they’ve got.
“I’m just starting, but I’m really pleased with what I’m seeing and some real good performances.
“We soaked up a lot of pressure and just for that tiny moment, we’d have had a great win on the night.
“They did put pressure on us. I’m not going to rose-tint it and say we were perfectly calm. They had only a couple of chances, but then I thought we could have nicked it at the end.
“We had a great header across the goal from Nevitt and when Jimmy-Jay Morgan came on and pulled it back to Arman Little and it just got cut out.
“It was a real cracking game. I said we’d be hard to beat and the Gills fans, who by the way, thank you because you’re going to get home at three in the morning and you’ve got behind your team like you wouldn’t believe.
“Every time we did something well at the defending end, you could hear the applause. You could hear the chants, the songs. Players need that. I need that. They were awesome.
“I think 340 made the trip. That’s a phenomenal numbers for a Tuesday night when there’s Champions League on the TV and there’s not much to play for in the season. Wow. Thank you.
“I can’t wait for the home game against MK Dons on Saturday now.”
