Gillingham manager Gareth Ainsworth didn’t get the win he craved on Monday night but was impressed by their second-half showing.
Once again, the Gills had to settle for one big half of football, this time improving after the turnaround, helped by a change of shape shortly after the restart.
Report: Gillingham 1 Colchester 1
The match against Colchester United ended 1-1 after Robbie McKenzie’s 74th-minute strike was cancelled out by a penalty that was converted with three minutes of normal time left.
“Second-half, I thought we were very good,” said Ainsworth.
“Fair play to Colchester, they gave us a tough first half, with some great saves by (goalkeeper) Jake Turner.
“We had a couple of chances, but not enough and then the second half, when we changed shape after five minutes, I thought we were definitely the better side.”
The Gills, who reverted to a back five from the start, had survived a couple of scares in the first 45 minutes.
Ainsworth said: “They’re a good side. They’re in good form. They’ve got a couple of forwards on loan who are doing really well.
“They’ve obviously got powerful boys at the top end of the pitch, and counter-attack really well. We knew all this thing. It happened a few weeks ago when we played them.
“I warned the boys, told them exactly what to expect, and we knew what was coming, but we’re pleased we didn’t get beat.
“I want to win my home games. There’s no secret about that but we’re pleased with the performance second half.”
McKenzie finished well after Aaron Rowe picked him out in the box but Arthur Read levelled with a penalty after Andy Smith was adjudged to have fouled former Gills man Jack Tucker in the box.
Ainsworth, speaking straight after full-time, said: “Disappointed with conceding, I haven’t seen the penalty back, so I can’t comment on it either way.
“Smithy says ‘no chance, that happens in every single box, in every single game. If that’s a penalty, then every contact’s a penalty’. Frustrating there, but we scored a really good goal.
“Robbie McKenzie took it really well and Aaron Rowe, great ball in.
“I’m really pleased with that second half.”
Ainsworth switched to 4-3-3 shortly after the restart and they got a goal after Sam Gale had earlier hit the woodwork.
“I think it hurt Colchester a little bit,” said the Gills boss, of the changes made.
“There was no roasting at half-time or anything. It was just a few little tweaks and then the change of shape really helped.
“I’m really pleased with where we are. We’re getting these points on the board slowly and hopefully we can do it better.
“We’ve got one of the best defensive records in the league, if not the best defensive. It’s just, ‘can we make it count when we’re on top?’
“We’ve hit the post and we’ve had a couple off the line, but then so have Colchester.
“You can’t say it was all us, but if we could just find that goal-scoring edge sometimes, we’d beat teams and we’d keep it secure at the back, definitely.
“That’s another team that has had to have a set-piece of a penalty score against us.”
