Gillingham’s winning start to the season at Priestfield under Mark Bonner extends unbeaten home form to 14 games in League Two
05:00, 16 September 2024
Gillingham manager Mark Bonner hopes their winning start at Priestfield this season is something they can build on.
Three wins from three at the start of his campaign, with eight goals scored and one conceded, is a record teams will take note of before heading down to Kent. It’s 14 games now without defeat at ME7 in the league for the Gills.
They went 11 home games without loss at the end of last season under former boss Stephen Clemence - who brings his Barrow team to Priestfield next.
Crawley Town’s 2-0 Boxing Day win at Priestfield is the last time the Gills have lost at home in the league
Bonner, speaking after a 3-0 home win over Tranmere, said: “We want to be hard to beat (at home) and we want to be entertaining as well when we can be.
“The fact that we've scored eight goals already in three games is very good and hopefully we can continue to build on that.
“But, like a lot of sides, physical teams that have got lots of threats in the game, you have to respect the opposition as well as try and be the team you want to be.
“Across the balance of the game (on Saturday) I'm really pleased with how we did.”
While the Gills face many long trips north this season, it also means for many they face a long journey down to play at Priestfield.
“We know how important (Priestfield) is for us,” Bonner continued.
“We know the geographics of the league and things like that. It's tough for people when they travel to us and we want it to be tough when they play here.
“We want to make sure we fill this place and keep building the connection, get it busier and busier and have more people coming.
“The crowds are great, the atmosphere is good. My dream is that it just keeps growing and it doesn't stop.
“Our level keeps improving here and you want to be in a position where teams fear coming here a little bit.
“We've got a real confidence when we are here and, hopefully, days like (Saturday) just help to keep building that.”
Next up for the Gills is a trip to current League 2 leaders Notts County on Saturday before third-placed Barrow visit the week after.
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