By Jack Nolan
April 22 2007

Gillingham defender Ian Cox and Gillingham manager give their views on The Gills' third win on the bounce at Priestfield. Goals from the Gillingham captains Ian Cox and Mike Flynn ensured The Gills climbed above Vale into 13th in League One.
RONNIE JEPSON

Gillingham were thee nil up before conceeding two late goals but held onto win all three points at Priestfield. Jepson said: "I was disappointed in the respect that once we got the third goal, we stopped passing the ball. We started doing things that we shouldn't be doing and our two strikers, they never got hold of the ball for me and passed it simple to enable us to go onto the next stage as we were getting plenty of balls into the box throughout the game. We just took our foot off the pedal and let them back into the game; I am disappointed with that. I am pleased though that we scored three goals at home and the amount of pressure we had on them, we could've maybe had one or two more. I am pleased with the three points.

"The start wasn't all that to be fair but we got to grips with it and then got our goals. We need to learn how to kill games off a bit more and be more professional in what we do. I have just told one or two of the lads that. I thought we played it at a good tempo in the right areas and controlled the game until just after the third goal went in. You could say it was an end of season game or hot, but you still want people to do their jobs. We did okay at the start of the second-half. I'm straight up front and honest with my boys and I've just had a go at them in the changing room. I wasn't happy with that last 20 minutes. We worked hard but we started showboating and weren't doing the right things at times to kill them off.

"Port Vale have got a good side and they have got some big lads in there. They lump the ball up there and play the three up top. They changed it round to 4-4-2 as they were getting passed to death. If we had stayed like we were, and kept doing the right things, we would have won the game comfortably. We worked on them yesterday by doing a bit of team play. We knew they would go with the three up front so we just kept our back four up against them and they did their job."

Ian Cox gave The Gills the lead just before the interval but Danny Spiller missed a great chance to double The Gills' advantage minutes later. Jepson continued: "It was a good finish from Ian Cox. We worked on it in training yesterday and it was nice for "Coxy" to get on it. He deserved a goal for his display today. Danny Spiller has done well to bring it down but you would expect "Spills" to score from there and send us in at two-nil. Fair play to him, he's got in there. "

Mike Flynn took his season tally to 12 with two goals in the second half. "It was a great ball. I mentioned at half-time that the quality of balls that we were getting into the box from Clint Easton, Danny Jackman, Nicky Southall and Mark Bentley. It is a striker's dream and with the third man running in from midfield, as you know it is going to go in there, we've got a couple of goals.

"Michael Flynn has got a few goals and I expect that from my midfield lads. Andrew Crofts has got a few, so has "Benno" and Matty Jarvis was going along well until his injury. You expect goals from midfield and we know where we have been let down a little bit this season, in terms of away from home, the back four. It isn't just those though as they need protection at times. At the other end of the pitch, they need ball retention so that the ball is not always coming back. It was today in the last 20 minutes.

Port Vale where then awarded a penalty late on with many questioning if the foul was inside the box. Jepson said: "From where I was standing, it looked a penalty to me. How my lad got booked for winning the ball, I don't know."

Gillingham striker Gary Mulligan passed a late fitness test to start the game but limped off injured shortly before half-time. On that Jepson said: "Gary Mulligan had a fitness test on Thursday and he was fine. We had a look at him again yesterday morning but "Mullers" being "Mullers"; he is too brave for his own good at times. He was making all the right noises and he wanted to play, which is credit to the lad. The physio has worked hard with him; he passed the fitness test but it's just "Mullers" being a bit daft as he is too brave. I'd rather have players like that though than the other way. I'll have a look at him on Monday but he'll probably tell me he is fit, you never know with "Mullers"! We certainly won't risk him but we were guided by him as he was doing the sprints and doing the turning in training and he wanted to play. Fair play to him."

Simon Royce made his Gillingham debut on Saturday and Jepson was pleased with his debut performance. He said: ""Simon Royce did well. He come and collected a few crosses and he is a good lad; he's not a problem. He has fitted in straight away with the lads and I am very pleased with him."

To conclude, Jepson paid tribute to the outgoing loan duo of Felix Bastians and Romain Larrieu. He said: "Felix Bastians was smashing. He came in and was good going forward. He needs to learn the other side of the game but his fitness levels and strength will build up with the more games that he plays. Romain Larrieu has been a credit to Plymouth Argyle and he fitted in so well with the lads here.

"Last week at Chesterfield, he was ill on the Wednesday and Thursday before, but he drove up to the team hotel on the Friday night to come and join us and play in the game on Saturday. He didn't have to do that but it shows you what type of character he is. I'd just like to thank them both on the record as they were superb for us."

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IAN COX

Club captain Ian Cox netted his third goal of the season for The Gills and he said: "It feels good. It is nice to get back on the scoresheet as nowadays, I don't get on it too often. That is my third goal this season and I am over the moon. All I had to do was get my head on it and direct it to goal. Thankfully, it went in. There were a lot of good balls put into the box and I think it was just a case of making a connection. Over the course of the season, there have been a lot of good balls put into the box and we haven't really made the most of it. It was good that we could capitalise on some of the good crosses that we coming in.

"I am disappointed we didn't manage to get a clean sheet. At three-nil up, we thought we've got them three goals, and our game plan was to keep a clean sheet. That is the major disappointment for us. We weren't really troubled at the back but they have ended up with two goals. It is a bitter pill to swallow but we are happy with the three points.

"We were cruising and were untroubled at the back. They have some half-chances but I think Simon Royce come in and did well. We got to three-nil up and we got a bit complacent and basically took our foot off the pedal. If we had kept on doing what we had done in the first half, as well as the early part of the second half, we could have gone on to win it more comfortably. It wasn't to be and they made a game of it by getting themselves back in, especially after that good goal. We managed to grind it out and get the three points.

"We've all got jobs to do. Everybody comes in here, they know what they have got to do and they get on with it. There are two games to go and I know that even thought we can't go up or down, there are still six points to play for. We still have to do our jobs to the best of our capabilities.

"It has been a bit disappointing and frustrating with the fact that I wasn't getting in the team. In fairness to Leon Johnson, Brent Sancho and Ben Chorley, they have done well so I didn't really have any cause for complaint. I am old enough and experienced enough to know that sometimes you just have to sit back and wait for your opportunity to arrive again. When it does, it is a case of can you take it and make a difference?

"Competition keeps everyone on their toes. There is no animosity between the boys and it is healthy competition. That is good and nobody can afford to rest on their laurels or get complacent. If you do, there is somebody coming in to take your place."

The 36-year-old is out of contract in the summer, and feels he can keep performing at this level by taking inspiration from Gillingham legend Andy Hessenthaler. Cox said: "I'm feeling good in myself. Sometimes they say that the Lord works in mysterious ways and I got sent off back in January and have spent a couple of months out. I've felt fresh and really good and long may it continue. I've been quite lucky as I've come back in and haven't felt that bad at all. The Bristol City game was probably the hardest one as it was two games in three days. That was quite hard to recover from but I don't have that much of a problem recovering; I have been quite blessed in that way.

"We'll have to just wait and see what happens. If it's the Good One above's will, then it will be. I'm taking it just one game at a time at the moment and enjoying it. The situation will get resolved soon, one way or another. I don't know what is going to happen but will just try and do my best. You have to give yourself a chance but if it is not meant to be, when one door closes, another one opens.

"I am 36 now and for me to be playing at this stage of my career, you have to enjoy it. Each game for me could be my last game. It's the same for everyone but I will just keep on playing until the body tells me otherwise.

"I didn't start playing until quite late so I have had a bit of extra-time. I was 23 years old and playing for Carshalton and working as an insurance salesman when I got the opportunity to play for a professional club. Somebody like Andy Hessenthaler is an excellent role model for someone like me. He has a wonderful work-ethic and is excellent in training. He has really looked after himself and has been a good servant wherever he has played; he did so well for the Gills and Watford."