Gillingham captain Armani Little delivered an honest assessment of Saturday’s drubbing, admitting his team-mates aren’t even getting the basics right.
Little faced the media after an embarrassing 6-2 thumping at Barnet – the second heavy defeat in as many weeks as the Gills stumble towards the finishing line this season.
The Gills are 18th in League Two and have one game left, ending a miserable season at home to Shrewsbury this Saturday.
“[It was a] very tough day,” said the midfielder, following the weekend loss.
“It’s just the basics of football that we’re not getting right, that we haven’t done so many times this season.
“The lads really have to take a long hard look at themselves. It’s nowhere near good enough.”
Despite Gills’ poor form and nothing to play for, there were still over 1,000 fans backing their team at Barnet.
Little said: “When they come in [those] numbers, and we’re playing for nothing, they’ve packed out the away end and we haven’t given them anything. It’s difficult for them to even want to come and support us. We have to be so much better.”
Three of the goals conceded came from set-plays.
Little said: “We go through them every week, before every game, and it’s the same things that are happening and it’s been happening too long.
“It’s been all season, we’ve not been good enough from set-play. It’s become a habit that we’re not defending them anywhere near good enough.
“There’s one game left and we need to bounce back as well as we can and have a bit of pride now.
“It’s embarrassing for the players and the club and the fans, the management. It’s been a few times now this season where we’ve conceded four or five.
“If we want to achieve good things next season, it can’t happen.
“[The players are] deflated, but then it’s the same messages again. People can talk all they like, but it’s what you do out there [on the pitch] at the end of the day.
“There’s been too many times we’ve come up short this season. We’ve been absolutely battered out there [at Barnet].
“I don’t think we worked hard enough and they ran more than us, in my opinion, and that can’t happen. It’s the basics of football and everyone can run. So why can’t we?
“Even though you’re not playing for anything, it does hurt. It hurts so much. There’s a group in there that are really down and deflated. I know people are going to say, ‘Well, do something about it then’. Everyone has tried and we’ve come up short again.”
Is the team still playing for the manager?
“Yes, definitely. No question about it,” he responded.
Little added: “It was so embarrassing out there. It’s pride while we play football. You want to win every game, even if it means nothing.
“Nothing beats that winning feeling and you want to create that winning mentality.
“Fair play to the [fans]. They’ve travelled all season. All we can say is ,‘Keep supporting us and good times will eventually come’, I hope. The club and the gaffer and the management all want to change things and bring them some joy.”
Looking ahead to the final game, Little said: “You have to be tough mentally to bounce back from this.
“We have to give the fans a good end of the season.
“I know it’s not a good season overall, but a good game to go home and give them some positivity for next season.”
