Gillingham manager Gareth Ainsworth has publicly declared his belief that he leads the best squad in League Two. His confident assertion follows the Gills’ impressive 4-1 away victory against Rotherham United on Saturday, which saw them climb to fourth in the league table.
Despite being three points behind current leaders Salford City, Ainsworth expressed strong conviction in his team’s capabilities. He told BBC Radio Kent, "I feel I’ve got the best squad in the league. I’ll say that outwardly now."
Ainsworth Backs His ‘Committed Bunch’
Ainsworth drew a comparison between Gillingham and Salford City, noting the financial disparity but highlighting his squad’s inherent strengths. "Salford may have a lot money and spent it, but I think I’ve got this committed bunch that stay in games – and how many times have our subs made an impact?" he stated. The manager also acknowledged the challenge of selecting just eleven players given the depth of talent, adding, "I want to play them all but I can only put 11 on the pitch." His comments highlight a belief in team cohesion and impact from the bench as key assets.
Tactical Adjustments Prove Crucial
The Gillingham boss also credited his coaching staff for a pivotal tactical change during the Rotherham match. Having gone into half-time level at 1-1, a strategic tweak by assistant manager Steven Craig and first-team coach Peter Gill allowed Gillingham to take control in the second half. Ainsworth explained the value of their input: "When I’ve got a million and one things going into my head, they’re calmly thinking we should just drop a little bit and screen, rather than going all-out press."
This adjustment, which involved delaying the press, was described by Ainsworth as having "worked a treat in the second half. We delayed our press a little bit and we took control again." The tactical flexibility and effective collaboration within the coaching team were key to securing the 4-1 victory, as reported by the BBC.
Gillingham’s Recent Form
Beyond their league triumph against Rotherham, Gillingham recently secured another win in the EFL Trophy, defeating Brighton & Hove Albion U21 by a score of 4-3. This match saw Brighton’s Tyler Silsby score from a free-kick, and notable players for Gillingham included Sullivan Booth and Garath McCleary. The BBC’s live coverage detailed the close contest, with Logan Dobbs receiving a yellow card for Gillingham.
