As Gillingham prepare for a return to Priestfield this week, their manager has urged some of his players to ‘toughen up’.
Gillingham are back at home tomorrow (Tuesday) night when they host historic rivals Swindon Town – a week on from a 5-1 trouncing by MK Dons, a night when the fans let their growing frustrations out on the players.
Over 1,000 supporters followed the Gills to Cambridge United on Saturday, and watched their side concede another five goals, this time without a shot on target.
Some Gills fans have been critical of the players and manager Gareth Ainsworth has told his squad that they have to suck it up and do their best.
Speaking after the Cambridge loss, Ainsworth said: “Fans backed us by numbers. They could absolutely have just stayed at home and thought, ‘It’s no point going and watching Gillingham get beat every week’, but I appreciate the fans.
“They sing for certain players, a couple of players got booed when the teams got announced, and that’s not nice, but it’s the way it is at the moment. I understand it.
“The players are going to have to become tougher, get their heads up, and that’s what it’s like, that’s what it’s always been like in football.
“You cannot let things affect you, you cannot sink, and you’ve got to really flourish and become that best player in that position on the pitch, and [on Saturday] we didn’t have nearly enough of that.”
Some players were clearly upset at the weekend, with striker Ronan Hale visibly suffering after another frustrating afternoon. He got a good reception when thanking fans for their support, but not everybody did.
Last week’s defeat to MK Dons prompted a statement from the club’s official supporters’ group. They urged Gills fans to “stop using what is clearly foul and very abusive language in chants aimed at both the management and the players during games.”
Ainsworth admitted after the MK defeat that some of his players had struggled to cope with the pressure of playing at home.
Prior to the weekend game chairman Brad Galinson also asked fans to stick with them.
But it’s been tough for the Gills fans. Ten games remain of the season and they were already out of the promotion picture before the heavy weekend loss.
Ainsworth said: “We’re rock bottom here and we’ve got to find a way. Tuesday is a big game against Swindon at home.
“I want to win that game, I know how much it means to the fans, and I know how frustrated the fans are at the moment.”
