Manager Gareth Ainsworth has asked the Gillingham fans to “stay with us” as he attempts to get their season back on track.
January is turning into an important month for the Gills, as Ainsworth looks to make changes to his squad, and also end a run of results that has seen them slip adrift of the promotion race in League 2.
The Gills will head to Notts County on Sunday – if the game beats the frost – looking to end a run of nine games without a win.
Performance-wise, Ainsworth has been pleased with his team, but they haven’t had the cutting edge to make their chances count, as was evident in a 2-0 loss at Swindon on New Year’s Day.
“We’re building, and we’re getting these performances, but we need a win,” he said.
“We haven’t won for so long now, and you don’t get where you want to be without winning games.
“I’m really frustrated and it’s about moments. If you get both boxes right, you’re a very effective team. We almost got both boxes right, and almost isn’t good enough; we’ve got to get it right.
“We’ve got to make sure it’s 100% right, and we defend right. We got caught out (at Swindon) with two sloppy goals, and we tried and tried, but we couldn’t force that ball past (their goalkeeper).
“Swindon are up there for a reason (in second place), but when I match a team like Swindon, it makes me believe that we can do something, it’s not like the massive job when I first walked in to turn around all this.
“We’re so close. We’ll put it right, it’ll take time, but stay with us, and that’s all I can say.”
Gillingham – now 16th in League 2 – are preparing to take on a Notts County team that currently occupy the last of the four play-off places in League 2, but they suffered a surprise home loss last time out, losing 1-0 to Accrington.
“We can’t lie down and feel sorry for ourselves – we’ve got to dust ourselves off,” said the Gills boss.
“The fans were absolutely brilliant (at Swindon) and back at Priestfield they’ve been great.
“I know they’ll come and I know it’s tough, and it’s a tough Christmas period, but we’ve got a tough game on Sunday. I’m going to need them again and we’ll give everything to try and beat Notts County.
“I’m positive that we can win on Sunday, and I’m sure we’ll get loads of fans up there again.”
Gillingham have sold just over 500 tickets for the trip to Nottingham.
Ainsworth made five changes to his starting line-up at Swindon and will rotate again for the last game of their busy holiday schedule.
Following Sunday’s game, the Gills have a break, as their match with MK Dons the following week has been postponed due to the opposition being involved in the FA cup third round.
Ainsworth said: “I’m pleased with where we are from a fitness point of view and injury point of view, could be better on a goal point of view.
“Goals are the hardest part of the game but the most important part of the game. We need to start scoring more goals and I’m working very hard on that.”
Notts County are to hold a preliminary pitch inspection today (Saturday) to check the status of the Meadow Lane surface in advance of Sunday’s game.
