THE GAME
Second half goals from Alfie Kilgour and Ellis Harrison sealed a win for Rovers against Gillingham after they had fallen behind to a first half penalty awarded in somewhat controversial circumstances.
For the trip to Kent Steve Evans made just one change from the side that had beaten Shrewsbury Town just a few days earlier and Harrison started in place of Joe Quigley.
Rovers began brightly and Tommy Leigh saw his third minute free kick blocked by a packed home defence while Harrison fired a shot wide of the upright. Joel Senior also went close, but after a run in which he evaded two tackles, his final shot was wide of the target.
The home side had offered very little when they were awarded a penalty with just 16 minutes on the clock. As Riley Harbottle went up to make a headed clearance he was pushed in the back by Omar Beckles. Caught off balance, the ball hit his raised arm but instead of awarding Rovers a free kick referee Mr Breakspear awarded the home side a spot kick which was duly dispatched by Ronan Hale.
Rovers responded to that setback and Harrison went close with a diving header which was well saved by goalkeeper Jake Turner. There were very few more first half opportunities for either side, though Beckles did head over the bar for the home side, while Kofi Balmer’s shot was blocked by his teammate Leigh.
Evans, who had made triple substitutions in the last two games, went one better on this occasion and made a quadruple change at the start of the second half, sending on Luke Thomas, Yusuf Akhamrich, Ryan De Havilland and Kane Thompson-Sommers in place of Fabrizio Cavegn, Riley Harbottle, Jack Sparkes and Leigh.
Within a minute of the restart his side were back on level terms when, following a corner on the left, the ball was cleared as far as De Havilland and his cross to the back post was met by Alfie Kilgour who saw his header enter the net off the far post to register his first goal of the season.
Akhamrich fired a shot over the bar and Kilgour saw a shot saved by Turner before a crucial block by Balmer denied Bradley Dack an opportunity to cross for Josh Andrews as Gillingham looked to edge in front again. Waldock volleyed over the bar for the home side, but Rovers were looking strong and Brad Young’s goal was never seriously troubled.
Senior saw a shot blocked following good work by Akhamrich before Rovers finally managed to edge in front with a somewhat fortuitous goal. A misplaced header from a Gillingham defender played Harrison onside but Turner managed to parry his shot as far as Thomas. The goalkeeper also parried his shot, straight back to Harrison who managed to scramble the ball over the line.
The striker headed another opportunity over the bar, Senior hit a shot straight at Turner and Akhamrich saw the shot stopper make a comfortable save from his effort before the 90 minutes were up.
Then, for the second time in a matter of days, the board showed that there would be a minimum of ten minutes added time, during which Young was forced to make a save from Sam Vokes before the home side were reduced to ten men after their captain, Little, saw red after collecting his second yellow card of the match.
The win meant that only one of the previous seven games have ended in defeat and edged Rovers closer to the finishing line. They now have a 13 point cushion between themselves and the final relegation place and the way they are playing and managing games suggests they should soon be mathematically safe from danger.
WHAT WAS SAID
‘I think we started really bright today; we were in total command. From nothing, a free kick into the box, the referee gives them a penalty, which is clearly a wrong decision; it is a clear foul on Riley Harbottle. I think even Gareth Ainsworth was surprised at the time that it was given, but with such respect for Gareth, we can both have that conversation at the time.
‘I think we probably were more wary about conceding a second goal, rather than getting a goal, and getting back into the game, and I saw a little bit of trepidation, a litte bit of fear in the players, and I went in at half time and said, ‘There is no fear here as I have got the cavalry coming and we are going to make the changes. Don’t be disappointed if you come off because it doesn’t mean that you won’t start against Accrington; it just means that for here and now, we are going to make four changes. Tommy is coming off because you are on a yellow, and you just get involved there a little bit off the ball, and the referee managed it really well for both, I think, both for the Gills player that was on a card, and ours’. That was an easy decision, and it gives us a bit of shape. I always believed that young Yusuf and Luke Thomas would come on and play a part today.
‘The fans were brilliant today. We are 1-0 down, and we come out to the second half and they are singing, I said to Paul Raynor, ‘These fans ain’t right in the head, these Gasheads they are wrong in the head, they are singing away when we are 1-0 down’, so then, we get the goal and it’s all them and they are singing, the Gills fans go quiet, which home support can do. We are very lucky at The Mem – our fans don’t go quiet.’ Rovers Head Coach Steve Evans
‘It was a good ball in from Ryan De Havilland. The corner came in, and I got headlocked, so the headband was off, hair was everywhere. A great ball back in, and I just managed to get enough on it to head it back the way it had come and in off the post. Although the lad tried to clear it, he didn’t quite get there, and it was over the line. It was a good feeling, and it’s been a long time coming for me – I’ve been unlucky a few times. It was nice to get the goal and, ultimately, nice to get the three points and a massive result.
‘Growing up as an eight year old kid in the Academy, you dream of moments like that, and with my Dad in the stands and family watching back home, it’s a proud moment and a good feeling. But, at that point, the job was still not done, so we had to kick on and try to get another goal, and Ellis Harrison, doing what he does, rode our luck a little bit and got the win. It was a good performance. It was professional. It wasn’t the nicest of afternoons, but definitely, if you’re not playing well, it’s a good sign if you’re still winning games and getting the performance in. It was professional, it was disciplined, and we got three points, so I’m happy.
‘We’re solid on the back, and we’re organised with Richie Smallwood in the midfield, two full backs doing brilliantly, and the subs coming off. The gaffer always says before each game that he’s going to take everyone, and that it’s about having a good attitude, good heads, and knowing that we’re all in this together. There is a real togetherness around the training ground, as I’m sure you guys see. We’re in it together, and that winning mentality is definitely building. It’s a good feeling – it’s a privilege to lead the group, and to start picking up results is brilliant.’ Rovers skipper Alfie Kilgour
‘It was like two totally different halves. We get applauded off at half time because of the effort and the play, and then we don’t defend a corner after the first minute of the second half. We defended really badly, and it was another set piece. I am trying to work on these set pieces. We have people who work on them daily to say that we have conceded from too many set plays, and we do it again. All that I can say is that I have to make changes.
‘We have got to be better. In the first half, we played some good stuff and picked the second balls up. We looked dangerous, and we had some free flowing play. In the second half, we looked so one dimensional. We just lumped it to Sam Vokes. We didn’t get it to Sam or Josh Andrews. They were getting wrestled by the big men. The boys had the license to play a little bit today, and we didn’t.
‘We have to find a way. You have to scrap. You have to be the best that you can possibly be, you have to be in the gym most days, you have to be eating right, sleeping right; you have to be living and dying for this shirt and badge on your chest.’ Gillingham Boss Gareth Ainsworth
