Nice to get another double under out belt and we seem to have got the Indian sign over Oldham in recent years, which is always encouraging. Counter that though with hardly ever beating other teams and I suppose it balances out in the end. What amused me most on Tuesday was how quickly an over-enthusiastic crowd of away fans can be stunned into silence. They were, understandably, bouncing around when they got that equaliser with plenty of "We..are..staying up" and the like. but were soon put back in their boxes after our sublimely worked and converted winning penalty. As has been the case so often this season, the small band of away fans were a lot noisier than the home ones, but that's how it is at most games I suppose, with the odd exception (like Selhurst Park for example). Anyway, at the risk of repeating most of us on here, the result was all that mattered. It wasn't the greatest of games and the football was not enough to get the crowd on their feet throughout but there were plenty of good things that did do that. I could pick out a few touches from Marley Watkins, for example, were he pulled down lofted, hopeful passes and turned them into something threatening when it seemed likely the ball was going out for a goal kick or throw. That happened more than once and Marley showed he was back to fitness. We've missed his presence these last few games and you could say that we might have beaten the likes of Scunny and Southend with him there. Apart from odd flashes of really good skill on the ball, all around the park to be honest, there was plenty of goalmouth action as well, at both ends. SSW could and should have bagged four or five and, had he not been suffering a bit of a drought just lately, he probably would be heading towards 30 goals by now. But he was there for that header and I couldn't help wondering if that was a deliberate tactic that created the space for him. We don't do many short corners but there is no doubt that Hammill's presence near the flag pulled out two of their defenders and possibly one more besides from the six yard line pack. All it needed then was to call the bluff, and a perfectly floated cross from Conor was right on Sam's head for a smashing goal. Hecky's instructions, or our players' initiiative? Could be either. The same could be said for our winner. I have never seen that kind of free kick tactic work so well before! Adam did a perfect dummy run into space and Conor slipped it to him (oo-er, missis). Now it WAS pretty reckless of their defender to take him out like that, but let's call it partial pay back for that awful non-penalty at their place years back when Gunnar Halle went down under a challenge from Blackadder who miraculously managed to foul his man from about six feet away. The ref bought the con big time, with a flake and sprinkles on top, and we were cheated out of the FA Cup. No doubt this time though - their man cleaned Hammill up nicely and no one argued. I was really glad to see Winnall march confidently over to pick up the ball and he said afterwards that Conor and he had agreed that he would take them from now on (CH having missed two this season). A confident walk was followed by a confident chip into the corner - no chance for the keeper and the game was won. Some have suggested that James Bree's injury was a game changer and I might go along with that. He is looking miles away from being good enough for me and he should be behind George Williams every time for the moment at least. I think there might be too much of the Stones/Holgate scenario involved in picking Bree. Yes, he's a good player. Yes, he will have a good career in the game and Yes, I like him. But....he's not ready yet. He's still a teenager so let's nurture him and bring him on gradually. Williams had done nothing wrong and is the best full back at the club - better than White even, for me. Going home gave me that familiar warm glow of winning (again) without the feeling of "wow, what a fantastic game". I enjoyed the fact that we had so many shots on goal and worked their keeper throughout. I enjoyed watching Alfie and Marc absolutely boss their forwards, with the odd exception of course. Curtis Main showed what a big mistake Donny made letting him go, and took his goal well. As for the next five games, I would get them all in the dressing room and say "Right lads - this is my first eleven for the next five matches. Just go out and win them all". And that first eleven has to include Scowen and Watkins, without a doubt. Brownhill has done well but is running out of steam. Fletcher and Toney - both made their contributions but both should be behind Marley and SSW in the selection. Williams definitely in at right back. The team just picks itself for me, and that is a first eleven that can beat ANYBODY, including the Blades and Wigan. Promotion still seems unlikely but it's not impossible. If things go well this weekend and then we beat the Posh next week we can all believe again. What a season. I don't want it to end!
Pretty fair summing up...the only thing I would say is the 'unlikely' part, certainly as a play off spot goes...I would think Gills fans are not thinking that...only 2 wins in the last 10 games..9 goals only scored and averaging 1 ppg...anything can happen.
Yes, I agree that anything can happen. I'm not writing our chances off until it's mathematically impossible. I only said "unlikely" based on the position we have come from. It just seems unlikely that we will make it, especially after those poor results against Scunny, Chesterfield and Southend. If we win all five though, and others fail to do the same, then it's still on. I really hope so, just so that we can keep the interest right up to the end. I was disappointed with the flat atmosphere on Tuesday night, not to mention the great big holes in the crowd that were filled on Saturday. Blame apathy, blame seat prices - whatever the reason, it's a shame. If we were getting crowds like Bradford, for example, that would really boost the team for that extra effort. I know theirs are probably artificially created though, with very low seat prices. Not criticising them for that, just saying it's a factor.
