Gillingham v Tranmere: Head coach Stephen Clemence looks ahead after midweek loss at Barrow in League 2
05:00, 07 March 2024
Gillingham head coach Stephen Clemence has challenged his side to start another positive run of results after a disappointing Tuesday night.
The Gills lost ground on the League 2 play-off race after losing to top-seven rivals Barrow. The 2-0 defeat saw Clemence’s side drop back to ninth in the table.
They had gone into the midweek clash after back-to-back wins over Wrexham and Salford which followed a draw against then-leaders Stockport.
Half of the division will still fancy their chances of being in the promotion mix come the end of the season, and the Gills know they can’t slip up too many more times as so many teams harbour the same ambition.
Clemence said: “We dust ourselves down and get ready for Saturday and can we start a new run now?
“We didn’t create enough (at Barrow), we had plenty of the ball and tried to change the system in the second half to see if that could open them up more but I have to say Barrow are very well organised, very tough to break down.
“They have been all season, that’s why they’ve been in the top seven for most of the season. It was difficult.
“We just didn’t have that bit of spark about us that we needed.
Clemence added: “There are a lot of teams that can beat each other in the division. I went expecting to win but I knew we were playing a really good team - very well organised and they have got good front players, a good back three, midfield players who can get around the pitch. [It was] a difficult game, but it is only one game.
The Gills will need around 20 more points from their remaining 10 games for a play-off spot, based on recent tables.
Weekend visitors Tranmere are one of few sides with little to play for in the remaining fixtures as they are 16 points above the relegation zone and 11 adrift of the play-off places.
Gillingham's season run-in
League 2 table
Clemence will be glad to see home soil again after two long away trips, winning 2-0 at Salford last Saturday but following that up with a tired-looking display in midweek.
Following them to Cumbria were 168 fans who had little to cheer about, with the Gills offering only rare moments of excitement.
Clemence said: “It was a great effort from the supporters making the journey up and I’m really sorry we couldn’t send them home happy.
“The fans follow us everywhere and we really do appreciate the support and we wish we could have sent them home happier. We were just as disappointed as them.
“It wasn’t for a lack of effort from the boys, unfortunately it happens and we didn’t set the standards that we have done recently.
“We get ready to go again and look forward to getting in front of our home supporters at the weekend and try and beat Tranmere.
“It is what it is, we’ve been beat and it’s one game. We look forward to the next one now.
“Let’s get back to Priestfield on Saturday and try and get three points there.”
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