Gillingham boss frustrated but sees ‘massive compliment’ in Newport approach

Manager Gareth Ainsworth believes Gillingham must learn to deal with teams who come to Priestfield determined to shut them out.

The Gills were held to a goalless draw by Newport County on Saturday, ending a run of two successive home wins in which they had scored five goals.

Newport changed from their usual back four to a five-man defence and spent long periods sitting deep, denying Gillingham the space they had exploited in recent weeks.

Ainsworth admitted it made life difficult for his side but said the visitors' approach should be taken as a compliment.

He said: “They came to defend without a shadow of a doubt. They came to soak it up, and they've soaked it up really well, and you have to say to [their manager] Hayden Mullins, ‘Well done. You've got that spot on.’

“They beat Grimsby last week at home and they were a four at the back. They've obviously come here and gone, ‘We're going to five at the back. We're shutting you out. We're not going to let you have anything’.

“They've changed their style. They've gone five at the back and denied all the space in behind and sat in their half. It's tough to break a team down like that.

“What we have to do is take a massive compliment saying, look, teams are going to do that. I think the team that Hayden's set up, I think it's better than last year. They're really solid and organised and big lads. That's going to be their theme, basing it on that. We almost broke them down a couple of times.

“Teams are going to do that [at Priestfield] and it's about us then trying to make it work and trying to get that goal.

“It's a real compliment. I'm happy to take those compliments. But I want to sometimes be better in that final third. It's the hardest part of the game, but we'll get there.”

Gillingham did not create a huge number of clear-cut opportunities but the introduction of returning striker Tom Eaves gave Newport something different to deal with.

The veteran striker was involved in two talking points after coming off the bench, with Gillingham appealing unsuccessfully for a penalty following a challenge on him.

Ainsworth felt referee Carl Brook should have pointed to the spot.

He said: “How the ref doesn't give a penalty, I don't know. I don't know how much holding you need, [he was] wrapped around him but that's the referee's decision and also, when he's dragged down later on in the game with the guys on a yellow, I don't know. I can't make these decisions. He's on the pitch.”

Eaves was at the centre of another controversial incident when Newport goalkeeper Jordan Wright raced out of his goal to challenge him as he chased Armani Little's long ball.

Wright clattered into the Gillingham striker, with the Newport keeper appearing to handle the ball before going down and winning a free-kick from Mr Brook.

Ainsworth was baffled by the decision.

“We've seen it back and we can't really tell [about the handball]” said the Gills boss.

“What we will say is that how the referee's given anyone a foul, I don't know. It's just a clash.

“The goalie's coming out so far and at speed. Tom's broke the offside line. That would have been a perfect moment for him, just to get that goal in front of the Rainham end. That would have been a dream come true back in the Gills kit.”

Earlier in the game, Mr Brook had also raised eyebrows when he booked Lamin Sillah following a high challenge after the Newport player went down low to head the ball.

Ainsworth was adamant it should not have been a booking.

He said: “I mean, that was never a high boot battle. Come on!”

Newport had twice as many chances as Gillingham but home goalkeeper Ollie Wright was rarely seriously troubled.

Ainsworth said: “They had a couple of moments, free-kicks, one flashed across the goal. I think Ollie's made one save at his near post, which I expected him to do. But on the flip side, I don't think we had too many on target.

“Harry Waldock just squeezed one past the post. Ronan’s is on target, gets blocked and Dack at the end.

“For the want of just one moment, it would have been a perfect performance. But the boys have defended really well, kept the ball well. It’s just that final moment that we didn't have.”