Gillingham haven’t had much fun at Newport’s Rodney Parade ground – but it’s a different story for their manager.
Rodney Parade has been the home of Newport County since 2012, but Gillingham’s three visits to the ground have all ended in defeats, the latest being a 3-1 loss six months ago, before Ainsworth was appointed manager.
For Ainsworth, the ground evokes happier memories.
Ahead of Gills’ trip to Newport this Saturday, he recalled a happy visit of his own: He said: “I was Wycombe manager for a couple of seasons before I got it together. I got it together after I met a guy called Andrew Howard, who came in as chairman. We really sorted the place out, and we put my stamp down on what I wanted it to be.
“I almost went down the year before, out of the Football League, and I was just taking the reins. I wasn’t properly managing. I’ll admit that now. It was tough at the start.
“I’d say the Wycombe era started at Rodney Parade. It was the 2014/15 season. We went there, we won 2-0, and I remember the game. I don’t remember many games in seasons, but I do remember that one because it was a big one.
“It was the first game together for me and Andrew, and it was the start of that fantastic journey we went on that ended in the Championship, play-offs, Wembley trips and everything with Wycombe. It was great.”
Wycombe lost there the following year, but Ainsworth and his assistant Richard Dobson led them to a 1-0 win the year after, then a goalless draw the season they got promoted from League 2.
Gillingham have found it tough against Newport – losing the last six games against the Welsh side – but Ainsworth is determined to end the poor run of form.
He said: “We’re going to try and turn that around but we have to be at our best because they’re a good side. Any team can beat any team in this league. We’ve seen that.
“We need to be on it because they’ve got some good individual players, definitely. The manager is obviously new to League 2 management, and finding his feet. We don’t want it to be against us.
“I’ve said to the boys, ‘Do not rest on anything now’. We’re on this. We’ve got to have the same energy levels and the same commitment that we’ve had throughout, and we’ve been working hard on that this week.”
League 2 table;
Newport are struggling at the bottom end of League 2 but Ainsworth knows they could be a handful.
“This could be one of the tougher teams we’ve played,” he said.
“I know people look at the league and think, ‘What is he talking about?’ But they have some good individual players.
“I’m well aware of one of their player (Bobby Kamwa) scoring a hat-trick against us last year.
“We’ll make the boys aware of their strengths. There’s no way I would ever go into this going, ‘This is all about us’. Some managers do that. I never do.
“I think there’s a tough test coming but I’m so confident in my boys to get through any tough test. I back them all but I won’t let their levels drop because that’s just not me. No matter who it’s against, these levels will not drop.”
