Gills concede in injury time at Bradford Picture: Barry Goodwin

At the moment we are underachieving and it is time to start getting some consistency in our play and results, starting with back to back victories this week.

Although the league table again doesn’t look good, I like to look at it that we are four points off the play-offs. We have a great chance to get closer to that position with two home games coming up and we will certainly be thinking we can win both but it is not just going to be handed to us.

Burton on Saturday will certainly be difficult, as they have started the season well and my old club Southend on Tuesday seem to be more settled after a tough summer of uncertainty.

We go into those games off the back of a defeat to Bradford.

For 90 minutes the boys can be proud of a hard-working performance against a side who I feel will be challenging for promotion. To lose in injury time was a real sickener and something we didn’t deserve.

We contained Bradford to few chances throughout the game, for which credit should go to the lads for working hard to stop them playing. It was clear to see and hear that we frustrated both their players and crowd but we couldn’t capitalise on their vulnerability, especially in the first half when we changed our formation and got stuck into them.

Sitting in the changing room at half-time I sensed that it was going to be our day. Even during the second half, when the game was a lot tighter and they seemed to put a little more pressure on us, we dealt with everything thrown at us and not for one minute did I see them scoring.

To see them score in injury time was tough on all of us because there was no time to get back into the game.

Lance has come under a bit of criticism for the goal and he would be first to
admit he would have liked to have done better.

It was one of those crosses that seem to stay in the air for ages and, fair play to their lad, he had a run on Lance and got up well. I think their player jumping early prevented Lance from claiming the ball.

I’m certainly not going to blame Lance because I feel he has done well for us since taking over from Alan Julian.

He’s pulled off some vital saves at critical times and I hope he puts this one behind him because we need him and, as a goalkeeper, he is the last line.

It gives players in front of him confidence when your goalkeeper is doing well and commanding his area.

For all the hard work we put in against Bradford, the one thing that we were disappointed in was our quality on the ball in the final third.

We wasted a lot of possession in good areas which meant we didn’t create much for our forwards and, like Bradford, were limited to few chances.

So all in all, we can take the positives that again we have worked hard all over the pitch and should have come away with a draw – but on the other side just working hard isn’t going to win us matches, we need to improve with the ball.

THE manager has added Bruce Inkago (left) to the squad and he’s looked bright in training and a player who is different to what we have – not just the fact he is French and doesn’t speak great English!

He is a player who likes to run with the ball and take on players with good pace. He has played well in the reserves so hopefully he can bring those performances into the first team.

With a lot of triallists coming and going already this year, it just shows how difficult it is out there being a footballer at the moment, with more than 700 players looking for employment.

Yes, it’s a great job and sport to be involved in but for lower league players, especially, it can be tough.

Players like Stan (Aborah) and now
Bruce have had to move countries in search of a footballing career and are two of the few fortunate ones to make the grade.

ONE bit of sad news is that former team-mate Stuart Thurgood had to retire this week due to injury at the fairly young age of 28.

Stu (pictured right) has a family to support and it just goes to show how cruel the game can be. It only takes one bad injury or one bad season and it could be over.

When you only know football, you’re not just going to walk into another job, especially the way the country is financially at the moment.

It is important players understand the importance of being prepared for life after football because you never know when it is going to end.

If you have any comments or questions, drop me an email atmedwaysport@thekmgroup.co.ukor leave a comment below.