Manager Gareth Ainsworth finally has the tools he craves at Gillingham and the chance to unleash his preferred attacking formation.
Wingers Garath McCleary, Jonny Smith and Aaron Rowe were all fit and available at the weekend which meant Ainsworth could set his team up the way he likes.
Wigan loan man Smith was making only his fourth league start, while McCleary was back involved following injury, and Rowe was playing as a forward rather than a wing-back.
“My style is probably wingers,” said Ainsworth, who was a wide-man himself during his playing days.
“I had a lot of success at my first club (Wycombe) with wingers and 4-3-3, going forward and creating opportunities.
“I thought they did really well. Ironically, we went to a 5-2-1-2 to get the winning goal, but I thought Garath would be a big threat, running off Sam Vokes.
“We played a couple of formations (on Saturday) but we got over the line and that 4-3-3 excites me.
“We have good wingers in the building. We can get at teams with that formation but we’re adaptable as well to win games, and we showed that.”
McCleary came off the bench to make an impact, replacing Smith on 70 minutes. He won the Gills a penalty which made it 2-2 and then headed in the winner.
“He’s above the level,” said the manager.
“He’s an absolutely brilliant human being first. We’ve been through a lot together, both in our personal lives and football lives.
“To have someone like Gareth McCleary firing, believe me, that’s a lucky team to have him and Jonny Smith, great players who can both play at a higher level and Aaron Rowe.
“We’ve got wingers now in the building, which is what I want to do and play like that.
“We’ve got some real good wingers in the building, and I like my flare players getting past people and running at people and getting shots off.
“Garath is lightning quick, still at 38 years old, Jonny’s got a difference about him, very jinky, gets his shots off, and Aaron Rowe can do a bit of both.”
With a four-man defence at the other end, Ainsworth made a change at right-back, with Sam Gale preferred over Remeao Hutton.
It was the first time Hutton hadn’t started a match since Ainsworth took charge.
The manager said: “I spoke with Romeao in the week but he was very professional about the decision.
“I’m pleased Sam came in and showed that he’s very good.
“He’s one of the best one v one defenders in the league, without a shadow of a doubt.”
