Gillingham defender Andy Smith says their current poor form is down to the players – not the manager.
The Gills conceded twice in stoppage time on Saturday to lose 2-0 at Crawley and extend their losing run to five games, dropping to 17th in the League Two table.
It’s the lowest the Gills have been this season, and losing to relegation-threatened Crawley was another low in a hugely disappointing season for the club.
“We’re gutted,” said the defender, following the latest loss.
“We were in the game for most of it, but in the second half of the season, we’ve not managed moments well enough. It’s cost us.
“[Saturday’s loss has] got absolutely nothing to do with system, tactics, anything like that. It just comes down to two moments [and we’re] letting the gaffer down at the minute.
“As a squad, we need to start taking ownership. It hurts at the minute.
“Things aren’t going our way and it’s only us that can dig us out of it. We’ve got to put it right starting Monday (today) and go again.
“I feel like we’re letting the gaffer, the staff and the fans down, and it’s on us as players. We’ve got to manage the moments better and that’s about it really.”
Despite the woes, the Gills are still being followed around the country in good numbers. Over 900 were at Crawley on Saturday.
“I feel the pain, 100 per cent,” said the former Hull defender.
“It’s not a nice place to be at the moment. The support was terrific. Pretty much a sold-out end. We’re letting them down, and it really does hurt. I don’t really know what else to say. It just really stings at the minute.”
The patience of the fanbase has been pushed to breaking point after successive seasons of failure, and the players have had to hear supporters’ displeasure frequently of late.
“I get it,” said the 24-year-old. “The fans pay so much money to come watch us week in, week out.
“I’m absolutely gutted for them that we’ve not managed to get at least a point [on Saturday], it really hurts.
“It’s moments in games that we haven’t dealt with. We’ve got to stand up as a team defensively and deal with moments better, which at the start of the season we were. For whatever reason, we’re not, and we’ve got to put it right.
“Every loss is just as painful as the other. Obviously, some are more humiliating, and they maybe hurt in a different way, but for me and for most of the boys, every loss hurts.”
The Gills will need to switch to a positive mindset this week as they focus on their game at Walsall on Good Friday.
Their opponents, on the edge of the play-off places, look like they have got their act together after a poor run of form themselves, picking up eight points from their last four games.
The Gills, meanwhile, sit rock bottom in the form table.
“We can’t feel sorry for ourselves,” Smith said.
“The gaffer’s been so positive with us [before last weekend]. He didn’t allow any negativity in training, anything around the building.
“We’ve let him down again and that’s what hurts. It’s just a horrible feeling at the minute.
“We are in a tough place but I know the gaffer won’t allow for any negativity come Monday. It’s only us that can turn it around. We’ve got to find it within ourselves.
“[The manager] will never let us dwell on things, but it comes a point when we’ve got to take ownership for ourselves as players. We’ve got to take accountability.
“It’s not had anything to do with anything in the week, the system.
“[Saturday came] down to two moments. There’s nothing that anyone else can do about that other than the players on the pitch. We’ll have to get on with it. We’ve got to put it right.”
