Gillingham’s ‘hard to beat’ mentality has delighted the manager – and they maintained their clean-sheet record on Saturday with an inexperienced centre-half pair.
Manager Gareth Ainsworth switched from a back five to a 4-2-3-1 formation, which meant Robbie McKenzie stepping back into midfield, leaving 20-year-old Sam Gale and Andy Smith, 24, at the heart of their defence, against a County side with an attacking line-up that few can match in League 2.
The Gills kept another clean sheet – their fourth in eight league games – to secure another win to stay joint top of the table.
“I don’t think there was a younger pairing in the league (on Saturday),” said the manager.
“Wow, they’re solid, really solid. I’m really proud that they’ve come up with a clean sheet and we did the business at the other end.
“The two centre-halves are the unsungs.
“Glenn’s had one save to make, from distance, where the boy (Jodi Jones) ran through about four in midfield and sort of scuffed his shot. Apart from that, I don’t think Glenn had a save to make. What a testament that is for the two young boys.”
Gale and Smith started the season among the substitutes but with Conor Masterson and Shad Ogie picking up injuries, the pair have secured a starting role in the side.
Ainsworth was an old-school winger as a player, that loved to take defenders on, but as a manager he enjoys coaching his team’s on keeping things tight at the back – leaving his assistant Richard Dobson to concentrate on their attacking threat.
He said: “It’s amazing because I was an out-and-out forward and I loved attacking. My strength wasn’t defending but maybe it was a little bit as well, because I’d win headers and tackles and things like that.
“I’ve Richard Dobson who used to play midfield who loves coaching attacking. I love coaching defending. I love making us solid.
“It’s strange because I never was that as a player. I was the attacker. But maybe I knew how to get past people. I knew what their weaknesses were and I don’t let them be apparent in my back four or five.
“We’ve changed formation quite a bit. The boys are adaptable. We’re solid. We’re hard to beat and I love that.
“But it’s not just the defenders, I’ll have to say that, because the forwards put a big press on Notts County to not let them get any rhythm. The work that they’re doing makes the defenders’ job easier.
“I’m not saying anyone’s job is easier than anyone else today. They all give everything.
“It’s a whole thing. We scored because of the eleven and we kept a clean sheet because of the eleven. It’s not just an individual.”
Ainsworth was seen celebrating a challenge from winger Aaron Rowe in the second half against Notts County.
“It was brilliant,” he said. “Those things are as big for me as the goal or a great pass.
“He’s doing it because he sees Bradley Dack, Jonny Williams or Sam Vokes doing it, or Garath McCleary doing it the week before.
“You can’t not follow those people who’ve played at the highest level going ‘this is what you do’.
“I think that those experienced boys are buzzing. Boys who’ve played at a high level going, ‘We’ve got this young and middle-aged group coming with us’ and we’ve got a chance.”
