Gillingham will be desperately trying to get injured players back ahead of the weekend in a bid to avoid a repeat of Tuesday night’s calamity.
The Gills lost 5-1 to promotion-chasing MK Dons at home and are now preparing to visit Neil Harris’ in-form Cambridge United, a side sitting third in the League 2 table.
Harris was at Priestfield to watch his old side crumble in midweek – three goals down inside 33 minutes – and will be hoping his own side can also capitalise on Gillingham’s injury crisis.
The Gills have quickly gone from having most of their squad available to throwing on youth players, handing Michael Luxton his debut on Tuesday night after recalling him from a loan at Isthmian South East side Sheppey United.
Gillingham manager Gareth Ainsworth had nine first-team regulars missing in the week and those that stepped in couldn’t handle MK’s quality.
“Let’s try and see if we can step up on Saturday,” said the Gills boss.
“We’ve got a big game at Cambridge on Saturday, and then we’ve got a big game back here against (fifth-placed) Swindon [on Tuesday]. Two very strong teams.
“Fair play to Neil Harris, he has done really well. Ex-manager here [at Gillingham], obviously, and he knows his way out [of the division].
“We’ve managed against each other and played against each other a lot, so a lot of respect for Neil and what his team does and then Swindon again, one of the big spenders in the league, and that’s going to be tough.
“We’ve got to step up. We can’t say we can’t win these games. We’ve got to find a way to break the level and raise our levels to compete with these teams, because otherwise we’re just going to be out of games, and we’ll get the same again.
“I didn’t like it [on Tuesday]. I’m sure the players didn’t like it. We’re going to have some pain if we keep playing like that. Let’s try and put it right.”
Since losing 2-0 at Notts County towards the end of October, Harris’ side have been beaten only once in 21 games to put themselves in the race for an automatic promotion spot. The U’s are looking to bounce straight back up after relegation from League 1 last season.
The last time they won promotion was when Mark Bonner – the ex-Gills boss and current United director of football – led them to a second-place finish in League 2 in the 2020/21 season.
Gillingham need every player they can to try and get a result at Cambridge.
On Tuesday they were without Sam Gale, Conor Masterson, Omar Beckles, Armani Little, Robbie McKenzie, Bradley Dack, Garath McCleary, Cameron Antwi and suspended striker Josh Andrews. Loan winger Jonny Smith is a long-term absentee who isn’t registered in the official squad list any longer.
“We’re going to try and get as many as we can back,” said the Gills boss.
“[Those] nine outfield players would walk into most League 2 teams. Without them, we are definitely weaker. I’ll happily say that.
“We need some of them back. How many we can get back is in the balance. We’re doing all we can because I don’t want another night like [Tuesday].
“The ones who come in, you’ve got to raise your game. I remember when I had to do it.
“Your career goes quickly if you don’t raise the game, you don’t deal with the pressure. You’re out the game quickly, even quicker nowadays.
“I’m sure that the boys can step up. I’ve got confidence in them.”
Striker Josh Andrews will be missing again as he serves the second of his two game suspension for amassing 10 yellow cards.
