Gillingham manager Gareth Ainsworth is confident the goals will come this season – and says ‘don’t judge us yet!’
For the past two seasons in League 2, only the bottom side has scored less than the Gills, and a paltry 36 goals the year before that was the worst of the lot. They scored one less than that the year they were relegated from League 1.
It’s been four seasons of suffering for the Gillingham fans who are desperate for change – something Ainsworth has assured them he will deliver.
Games against some higher-league opposition have seen the Gills struggle to score but that isn’t a concern for the manager.
Speaking after the 2-0 home loss on Saturday, he said: “We’ve played two good teams (Reading and Luton) in a 90-minute game and a training game at Southampton.
“We’ve had opportunities, which is good. It’s not as though we’re drawing blanks. I think people can see what we’re trying to do.
“Yes, this club has struggled for goals over the last few years, without a doubt.”
Ainsworth has added a couple of extra strikers to the club with 21-year-old Seb Palmer-Houlden joining from Bristol City and Sam Vokes arriving with a career that boasts goals at the highest level.
Vokes won’t be fit until after the start of the season as he recovers from a broken arm.
The Gills have retained Elliott Nevitt, Joe Gbode, Marcus Wyllie and Josh Andrews from last season.
“I think Seb will score goals this season,” said the Gills boss.
“I think his endeavour is going to get him goals.
“We look dangerous from set pieces. We’ve got some quality around the box. And obviously, we’ve got a couple of players to come back into that as well.
“I’m looking forward to it. Judge us in League 2, rather than pre-season against higher League 1 teams.”
The Gills will face non-league opponents in their final pre-season games when they take on National South side Ebbsfleet United on Tuesday night and Isthmian Premier Dartford on Saturday.
