Gillingham manager Mark Bonner has issued a rallying call to his senior players ahead of this Saturday’s crucial League 2 clash against Swindon Town.
After suffering five consecutive defeats, the Gills find themselves in a precarious position, having plummeted from top of the table to 11th in just a few weeks. Bonner believes the team’s more seasoned players must raise their game to help break this alarming run of poor form.
Saturday’s match represents an opportunity for Gillingham to end their slump, but it won’t be easy against a Swindon side that is eager to capitalise on the Gills’ struggles.
Bonner’s Rallying Cry: “Experienced Players Must Step Up”
Reflecting on the recent string of losses, Bonner has made it clear that the solution lies within his squad, particularly with those who have been around the block. Speaking after Tuesday night’s 2-0 defeat to Newport County, he said: “Our best performers and best performances are coming from players that maybe haven’t been at this level, or haven’t been the ones that are so highly thought of in the past.”
Bonner didn’t mince his words when addressing the more experienced players, calling for them to show more leadership on the pitch. “A lot of the others that have got experience, or that have played more, they’ve got to step up because it’s all well and good talking about wanting to be a good team. Good teams don’t lose five games on the bounce,” he stated.
While younger talents like Joe Gbode and Marcus Wyllie have been praised for their hard work during a tough spell, Bonner expects more from the senior members of the team. “There’s loads of performances that aren’t at the same level that they need to be. They should be self-aware enough to know, ‘Right, I’ve got to do more’. They should tell each other if they’ve got personality and a proper togetherness, they should be able to drive each other.”
Jonny Williams: “It Hurts Us as Players”
One of the more experienced players being looked upon to help steady the ship is Jonny Williams. The Welsh international, now in his second season with Gillingham, has expressed his frustration with the team’s recent form, stating that the players are feeling the pressure after five straight losses.
Speaking candidly, Williams revealed the mood within the squad. “The dressing room is just really down and frustrated at the moment,” he admitted. “We started the season really well, as we did last year, and the one thing about last year was consistency. That’s something we thought had clicked this year; unfortunately, we’ve been inconsistent again.”
Despite the difficulties, Williams remains confident that the team can bounce back, starting with a positive result against his former club. “It’s down to us as players to sort that out, and there’s probably no better way to do it than on Saturday going to Swindon.”
Williams believes the team still has the quality to compete at the top end of the table, but acknowledges that it’s time to show character and resilience. “It hurts us as players. I’m speaking on behalf of everyone. It’s a real down-dressing room. We’ll come in Thursday and we have to pick ourselves up and believe we can win and beat Swindon.”
A Tight League with Everything to Play For
Despite their recent slump, Gillingham still have plenty to fight for in a tightly contested League 2. As Williams pointed out, a win on Saturday could see the Gills climb back into the top seven. “Thankfully we’ve already got a lot of points on the board. It’s up to us now as a group, and as a club, to stick together and not get on each other’s backs and pull ourselves through this patch,” he said.
As Gillingham prepare for their trip to Swindon, the pressure is mounting, but there is still optimism that they can turn their season around. Williams summed it up by saying: “We’ve just got to keep doing what we believe in, keep trusting in what we’re doing, keep creating chances and it will change.”
Whether or not Gillingham can end their losing streak this Saturday remains to be seen, but one thing is certain—Bonner and his players know that time is running out to get their season back on track.
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