Fortress lacking firepower

Ainsworth sees progress and growing respect, but Gills must learn how to unlock teams prepared to sit deep

Originally published in Gills Journal by David Tickner.

A goalless draw with Newport County extended Gillingham's unbeaten home league run to four matches, but Saturday's performance did little to suggest Priestfield has yet earned its description as the ‘fortress’ Gareth Ainsworth has repeatedly spoken of building in recent weeks. While Gillingham recorded a third successive home clean sheet in the League, their attacking output was limited, producing just seven attempts on goal, only one of which tested the goalkeeper.

In contrast, Newport registered 15 shots, five on target, and were the stronger side throughout the first half, creating the game's best opportunities and coming closest to breaking the deadlock. Ainsworth afterwards maintained that he ‘didn't feel under threat at all’, although Newport's attacking statistics told a different story. The visitors struck the crossbar, had an effort cleared off the line and forced several saves from Ollie Wright, underlining their first half superiority.

Nor did Gillingham display much of the ‘nous’ that Ainsworth had demanded following the previous week's defeat at York. If anything, it was Newport who provided the greater evidence of game management and tactical intelligence, frustrating their hosts while looking the more purposeful side.

Respect but no solution

Ainsworth was forced into making two changes to the starting eleven. Garath McCleary and Lamin Sillah started in place of Eli King and Will Goodwin, both of whom sustained injuries in the previous weekend’s defeat at York. Ethan Coleman and Armani Little were named among the substitutes following their own injury layoffs.

As anticipated, Gillingham dominated possession, enjoying 67 per cent of the ball, but rarely used it in a manner that troubled the Newport goal. The visitors, having switched to a back five, were content to concede that possession. Despite the absence of leading scorer Shaquille Gwengwe, who missed the match through illness, Newport still posed the greater attacking threat and looked the more dangerous side when they broke forward.

Ainsworth suggested Newport's tactical adjustment was a mark of the respect opponents are beginning to show Gillingham at Priestfield, arguing that some visiting teams will arrive prepared to defend deep and challenge his side to unlock them. On this occasion, however, Gillingham were unable to find the key, producing little of the creativity or penetration required to break Newport's resistance.

Exiles carried the greater threat

Newport carried the greater threat throughout the first half and should arguably have been ahead before the interval. As early as the seventh minute, Watford loanee Michael Adu-Poku shrugged off Logan Dobbs inside the penalty area, cut onto his right foot and placed a shot beyond Wright, only for James Brophy to clear his effort off the line. Adu-Poku was influential again just before the half-hour mark when Wright saved his low effort and Matty Jacob, on loan from Hull City, could only steer the rebound into the side netting from a tight angle.

On both occasions Newport's slick build-up play cut through Gillingham's midfield and defence with ease. The visitors then came closest of all six minutes later when Christian Doidge, deputising for Gwengwe, headed against the top of the crossbar after Harrison Biggins' well-delivered free kick had been nodded back across goal by the imposing Cameron Norman.

Harry Waldock, Gillingham's brightest attacking outlet, curled a left-footed effort narrowly wide in the 17th minute and, shortly before half-time, skipped beyond two defenders before drilling a dangerous ball across the face of goal that evaded Sillah. Waldock was also at the heart of Gillingham's best move after the interval, driving the counterattack and delivering an inviting cross for Ronan Hale. However, Hale failed to make a good connection and his effort was comfortably blocked.

Gills getting to half time at 0-0 proved significant as the balance of the game shifted after the restart. Newport were no longer as dominant and Gillingham played with a little more purpose, although the actual volume and quality of chances remained low. The second half looked better largely because the first had been so poor, not because Gillingham began creating chances.

A focal point but no breakthrough

The introduction of the returning Tom Eaves just after the hour mark provided the Gillingham attack with a focal point, but not yet the firepower. His presence offered renewed hope inside Priestfield and encouraged a greater willingness to play forward earlier and with more conviction.

Ainsworth had urged patience before the match, acknowledging Eaves' lack of recent match practice, and while the striker gave the attack a more recognisable shape, genuine goal threat remained limited. Clear-cut opportunities remained scarce, although Eaves was adjudged to have fouled Newport goalkeeper Jordan Wright, who had raced outside his penalty area, in one of the few second-half moments that hinted at a Gillingham breakthrough. Ainsworth also felt Eaves was being held in the penalty area in an earlier attack and could not understand why he wasn't given a penalty.

Jack Daley and Sheldon Kendall were introduced after 74 minutes. Daley replaced Dobbs, who had endured a difficult afternoon, particularly at the hands of Adu-Poku during the first half and had just been shown a yellow card. Kendall again looked lively, injecting pace and a degree of invention into Gillingham's attacking play.

Further changes followed late on, with Bradley Dack and Little introduced in the 86th minute. Dack, who had made a substitute appearance at York the previous weekend, was marking his 250th appearance for Gillingham, while for Little it was a first outing since the opening-day defeat by Walsall. Neither had enough time to make a significant impact, although Dack came closest to snatching a winner in stoppage time when he directed a glancing back header from Daley's deft cross onto the roof of the Newport net.

The next problem to solve

A goalless home draw in early October that leaves Gillingham 10th in League Two is hardly decisive, particularly with injuries affecting selection, but these are the fixtures against which promotion ambitions are ultimately measured. Newport may be performing better this season than in recent campaigns, but this was still the type of home game Gillingham should expect to win if they are to establish themselves as genuine promotion contenders.

This was not a performance that strengthened the promotion case, but neither did it resemble the drift and uncertainty that characterised much of last season. As Ainsworth put it, ‘This is not last season.’ The challenge, highlighted by Saturday's stalemate, is turning possession and defensive solidity into the creativity and cutting edge required to break down opponents and turn draws into victories.

David Tickner writes regularly about Gillingham Football Club on Substack. You can read, follow or subscribe for free at Gills Journal | David Tickner | Substack.