Gillingham’s table-topping side will be looking to become history-makers this Saturday.
The Gills made it 20 games without defeat in League 2 when they beat Notts County last weekend, equalling a club record that’s stood since the 1973/74 campaign. Gillingham finished runners-up in Division 4 that season.
They head to bogey side Newport County this Saturday sitting joint top of the table after eight games, second only to old rivals Swindon Town on goals scored.
If they can pick up at least a point in south Wales then Gareth Ainsworth’s men will have cemented their place in the history books.
“Records are there to be broken – and that would be nice,” said Ainsworth, who hasn’t lost a league game since taking charge nine games before the end of last season.
“Even if we don’t, I’ll be proud of this group [and if we don’t] I’ll need the fans then and I’ll need everyone else to go, ‘You know what, we’ll go again’.
“I keep saying it. [A loss] is going to happen but it didn’t happen [last Saturday] and that’s great.”
The top half of League 2;
The Gills were a lot more potent in 1973/74 – finishing the season with the division’s best goal tally of 90 from 46 games.
Ainsworth has managed to get his side to score in every one of his 19 league and cup games but 1-0 wins remain the norm – something he’s okay with.
His league record since taking charge is eight wins and nine draws. Seven of those eight victories have come with just the one goal required.
He said: “We haven’t scored a great deal from open play, but we could have scored two or three [on Saturday]. We’ll get there.
“Scoring goals is the hardest part of the game. That’s why being solid is very important to me.
“One goal did it against Notts County. I think there’s some great teams in the past that have been very 1-0 and won a lot of stuff on that. I’m not going to rip apart a 1-0. I’m happy with a 1-0.
“Believe me, as a football manager, a 1-0 is as good as a 5-0. It really is. So we’ll take that.”
Gillingham’s unbeaten start;
Gillingham’s last defeat in the league came, ironically, at Newport on March 4 last season.
It was a bad outing for stand-in boss John Coleman, losing 3-1. He didn’t make any substitutions that night, despite conceding three goals inside 30 minutes – a decision that didn’t go down well.
He apologised to the fans after the defeat. It was a sixth straight loss for the Gills in away games at Newport and they haven’t won there since Dave Shearer netted late on to seal a 2-1 victory in the opening game of the 1986/87 season.
“It’s another jinx I’ve got to try and get rid of,” joked Ainsworth.
County have had a tough start this season and a 1-1 draw with Tranmere on Saturday ended a six-game losing streak.
Looking ahead, Ainsworth said: “This team is capable of beating anyone in this league – but then so is any other team.
“It’s just the consistency now of keeping that performance level high – and we will. It’s my job.
“We will be going to Newport with confidence but, as I’ve said, anyone can beat anyone in this league. Newport can turn us over easily. I want to make sure that the boys are on their absolute best.
“We’ve a full week training, getting ready for what I want to be a good performance away from home so we can bring something back from Newport. That’ll be the message.”
