Gillingham winger Jonny Smith was surprised to learn just how bad Harrogate’s current League 2 form is.
The Gills travel to Yorkshire this weekend to face a Harrogate team who have gone 16 league games without a win. In fact, their last win was against Gillingham at the end of September, leaving Priestfield as 1-0 winners.
Smith played that game – as Harrogate ended Gillingham’s 21-game unbeaten run – and he couldn’t believe that they hadn’t won in League 2 since.
Smith said: “I started the last match against them when the stadium was full of Gillingham fans, it felt like it was going to be a good day but they obviously ruined it, to be honest, and were very good that day.
“I played with (Jack) Muldoon, the striker there, and I know his threats. He’s a good player. It’s going to be tough and we’ve got to be ready.”
Smith faced a long spell on the sidelines out injured after that game and he was surprised to hear that it was the last time Harrogate had picked up three points. The Yorkshire side sit second from bottom in the table.
“I didn’t know that, to be fair – I thought they were one of the best teams that we played, in the few games that I have played! They really played well that day. That surprises me.
“They were a good side. We know they’re dangerous. You can’t underestimate anyone in this league, that’s what I’ve realised since I’ve been here.
“Everyone’s got a threat. They’re going to be a wounded animal in front of their fans, but we know the expectation of (our own) fans is to produce wins. We know that it’s going to be tough, but we’re going there to get the three points.”
Gillingham had been selling £5 tickets the day they played Harrogate at home, and a season-best crowd of 7,406 was at Priestfield to watch what turned out to be a frustrating afternoon.
The defeat ended Gills’ record-breaking unbeaten run, a first loss at the club for manager Gareth Ainsworth. The Gills struggled for wins after the Harrogate defeat, going on a run not too dissimilar to the one their weekend opponents are now on.
Gillingham’s win over Newport last weekend was their first in 10. The Gills had only won one in 15 before that.
Victory last weekend has given everyone at Gillingham a much-needed shot in the arm.
“We need to kick on now and get back to where we were earlier on in the season,” said the Wigan loan man.
“(Saturday’s win) was massive for the confidence. We haven’t had that winning feeling for a while. Everyone was buzzing. It was just a really good atmosphere after the game.
“You start looking at the table more positively and start believing again that you can get up that league.
“Wins breed confidence, and confidence is probably the biggest thing in football. It makes everyone play a little better, like 4% or 5% better, and you can see how much it meant to the fans as well at the end. It felt like a real big win, and hopefully we can build on that now.”
Harrogate’s form since winning at Priestfield;
Smith has started Gillingham’s last two games and is glad to have seen the back of the injuries that made for a frustrating first half of the season.
He said: “I came here to come and help the lads and play, and it hasn’t worked out like that.
“It’s probably been one of the most frustrating seasons in my career, to be honest.
“I got a small injury in pre-season, and then I played a few minutes off the bench at Wigan in some league games. I wasn’t 100%, but I was fit enough to come in and play games.
“I’ve just been unfortunate with injuries. Now it’s time to try and get back fit and try to finish the season strong.
“Obviously, it’s going to help me in the long run to be stronger mentally and help Gillingham in that second half of the season really kick on.
“I’ve been training now for a few weeks, and obviously got 55, 60 minutes on the weekend, just about getting back to my best that I know I can produce in this league. I’ve just got to keep working hard.”
The Gills worked hard in the summer to get the Smith deal over the line, and he joined on loan from Wigan for the season. Those injuries have limited him to just eight league appearances, half of those coming off the bench.
“I just felt like I really couldn’t catch a break, but the staff [have been] brilliant with me,” he said.
“The fans kept asking, ‘When are you going to be fit?’ They were really positive with me. I can’t thank them enough.
“Hopefully now I can show them what I can do on the pitch, because there’s been limited opportunities so far.
“(The manager) tried to sign me a few times when he was at Wycombe, and it just didn’t align with where I was in my career at the time. I’ve always respected his teams.
“He’s a really good guy and it’s been good to play for him. I know he believes in me and now it’s time for me to give back after the faith he’s shown in me.”
