Gillingham boss Ady Pennock insists his team are “really up for Saturday’s game” against Sheffield United
by Andy Robinson
Gillingham FC will travel to Brammall Lane on Saturday to face League One table-toppers Sheffield United with their new boss Ady Pennock’s – his second game in charge.
Pennock oversaw a disappointing 1-0 loss in his managerial debut at struggling Oldham Athletic last weekend, leaving The Gills precariously hovering just five points adrift of the relegation zone in 17th place.
However, he ensured that “there’s been a good response” to the result and insists “the boys are really up for Saturday’s game”.
“It’s a cracker, we want these big games. If you’re not up for this sort of game, then there’s no point being a professional footballer in my eyes. It’s a fantastic stadium and they’ve got great support up there. The manager’s doing a great job so everything’s against us but that’s what it’s all about and I love it. We’re prepared for it and we have to give it all on the day.”
The Gills were expected to get something out of their last fixture but Pennock believes his team are capable of positively proving predictions wrong this time around.
“It’s ironic. I’d imagine people thought we were playing Oldham, bottom of the league, we’d just turn up and steam-roll them but that wasn’t the case. I’d imagine there’s people that think, we’re going to Sheffield United, top of the league and it’s going to be difficult but like Jimmy Greaves said years ago, ‘It’s a funny old game football is’.”
The new Gills boss has barely had a moments rest as he aims to toughen up a squad which claimed a dismal record for consecutive matches without a clean sheet
“No one’s going to roll over and were going to start tickling their tummies. You’ve got to come to these places and roll up your sleeves and battle. We didn’t do that on Saturday. We were trying to keep our shape but we didn’t have enough going forward. We didn’t have that steel or that energy to close people down.”
The Gills went into half time a goal down after Josh Law’s free-kick flew past Stuart Nelson in the 39th minute.
“Obviously going in 1-0 down was disappointing but I thought second half we tried to do things right and looking back we should have had a blatant penalty. We had three or four good chances. If it wasn’t for their keeper or the referee’s decision, then I think we would have come away with something. They’ve responded well and worked very hard on Monday and Tuesday. I could see they were trying to do what I wanted them to do. We’ve learnt a lot from last Saturday.”
New goalkeeper Tomas Holy could make his Gills debut against the Blades – subject to international clearance – after completing his move on Friday morning.
In other team news, an illness bug looked to be spreading around the team with young Jake Hessenthaler missing from the last match-day squad entirely, however he has recovered and is back in contention for the weekend.
In his absence, Pennock granted Elliott List his first league start against Oldham and he was full of praise for the young winger.
“His attitude has impressed me the most. When he gets the ball he wants to be positive, take people on and take the ball down the park for us. I thought he did really well. He’s got pace, he’s got a trick in him and he’s a threat. We need that when you go away from home and you’re under the cosh. He wants to learn and that’s half the battle. He’s got to learn his jobs but when he’s got the ball I tell him take people on, get to the by-line, get crosses in; end product is what I want from my wide players.”
After Saturday’s tough fixture at Brammall Lane, The Gills face AFC Wimbledon at Priestfield for Ady Pennock’s first home game in charge, a match he claims is “sure to be emotional” as he returns back to the turf he once ran out on as a player.
