By Jack Nolan
August 19 2006

Gills boss Ronnie Jepson, gives his views on the frustrating defeat to Northampton. The Gills lost thanks to a goal by Northern Ireland international, Andy Kirk on twenty three minutes. The defeat was the Gills' third defeat in a row.
Speaking about the game, Jepson said, "If I may say it, it was very lack-lustre. In the first-half, we never got out of the traps like we have been doing. We have started the games really well and had a good tempo but just didn't get going today. In the second-half, we had plenty of possession and our keeper never had a save to make. But for Ronnie Jepsonall our possession, there was not enough movement in the final third to create the openings. Saying that, we did have enough chances in the second-half to get something.

"Obviously, I was very disappointed with the first-half. Maybe, at times, I hope the players don't get too complacent because their place is not under too much threat with the size of our squad. I need more from my players than what I have seen today. They are not nailed down in that shirt, I have just told them that in the dressing room. It is back to the base-camp and get back to doing the things that we started off the season doing well and hopefully the goals will come. Even though it wasn't a good performance today, we still had some good chances.

"Crofty had a good chance in the first-half with his header. There was another one where he was free, the ball has come across and he has put it past the post. They were two good chances. Guylain has come on and could have squared one to Sancho for a tap-in, but he said he never saw him. He also had the other one where the volley sat up for him nicely but you have got to hit the target with that. He looked bright when he came on and he gives us another dimension. I thought Macca and Mullers didn't look at the races in the first-half with their movement in the final third. We need better than that. The amount of balls we got in the area in the second-half was incredible but you have got to have more devilment in there and a bit more movement and, at times, we lacked that."

Speaking about the Kirks goal, Jepson said, "The keeper has decided to come out and he has got something on it. I thought the reactions after he has half-cleared it, they were poor. We could have got out to the ball quicker but we never. That just said everything about the first-half. We were lack-lustre and never got out of the traps.

Speaking about the team Jepson said, "They came here, we knew it was going to be tough and they got the goal. It was then up to us to break them down, what with us being the home team. Like I said, the creativity and movement in the final third, we were found wanting. We knew the problems they would cause us today. What I asked the lads to do, they haven't done today. I would say that if we start off games like we did today in the first-half, it is very hard to get back into them. We had chances in the second-half to get back into it but it was more through huffing and puffing than good play."


Gillingham face Millwall in their next fixture at The New Den, and speaking ahead of the game Jepson said, "We go to Millwall on Tuesday night and nobody will give us a chance there. They have spent a lot of money, got some good players there and have a big squad. We'll go there, give it everything that we have got and hopefully the lads will start off better than they did today. We're in tomorrow morning so I will asses my squad then and see where we are up to with the injuries."