Gillingham midfielder Ethan Coleman plays key role in keeping Stockport County out in League 2 match
05:00, 08 March 2023
updated: 08:11, 08 March 2023
Gillingham will hope to show their attacking qualities on Saturday after a rearguard midweek performance.
The Gills set up to frustrate and contain promotion-chasing Stockport on Tuesday and got the job done, returning back to Kent with a hard-fought point after a goalless draw.
Ethan Coleman was a key man in keeping it tight, coming into the team to replace the experienced Shaun Williams, playing the defensive midfield role just infront of the defence.
Mid-table Tranmere will be a different prospect at Priestfield on Saturday.
Coleman said: “It’s another massive game and we will go hell for leather and try and get three points, we want to go for it, give the fans what they want, especially at home.”
The fans appreciated the team’s defensive resolve at Stockport - even if they had little to cheer in their team’s attacking third.
“We set out to frustrate the opposition and I think we did that,” Coleman said.
“We sat back as a unit, defended well throughout the whole game, a bit disappointed because we wanted to attack more maybe, especially for the fans that came up, but it was a good result in the end.
“You do want to nick a goal, they were seventh, you want to nick three points, that’s the aim, but we are happy what the draw.”
Coleman started Tuesday’s game and his only other appearance came off the bench against Bradford City in the previous week’s midweek match.
“I was excited to start,” said the former Leyton Orient man. “I wanted to show everyone what I could do. When you come in and wait for the opportunity, you want it to come as quick as possible so you can show the boys what you can do.”
Manager Neil Harris sees Coleman as a great replacement for experienced campaigner Shaun Williams, who can’t play every minute during a busy schedule.
Coleman said: “He has a lot of experience, a really good player. I have enjoyed playing with him, enjoyed watching and learning off him, he has been in the game so long, it is massive for me to look and see what he does.”
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