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The One-Two: Ainsworth pleased with defensive response in goalless draw
05.10.26, 12:00 Updated 05.10.26, 09:27
The One-Two
Simon Head
Gillingham rebounded from their 3-0 away defeat at York with a solid, if unspectacular, display as they laboured to a goalless draw with Newport County on a frustrating afternoon of football at Priestfield.
The visitors created some good early chances, but weren't able to convert, with Ollie Wright only really being called upon once during the opening 45 minutes. And, while Gillingham had little defending to do other than the occasional set-piece, there wasn't enough of a cutting edge going forward to take advantage and claim a bounceback win.
“Often the unsung hero of the team, Freeman was Gillingham's best performer on the day. Covered the full length of the pitch on the right flank, and was a constant outlet for the team, with much of our best play going through him.”Simon HeadFounding Editor, Gills 365
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After shipping three goals on the road at York City on Matchday 8, Gillingham looked much more solid in defence as they earned a point with a goalless draw against Newport County on a grey day at Priestfield.
On a day where attacking quality was lacking, it was important that the defence stood firm whenever the visitors pushed forward, and the effort and endeavour remained there for all to see, even if the quality in the final third was missing on the day.
After the dust had settled on Gillingham's 0-0 draw with Newport, Gills 365 assesses the individual performances of each of the Gills players against Newport County on Matchday 9.
“I thought that going forward, we had plenty of possession of the ball – loads and loads of possession – and it was just a want of that final move or that final break that we could put in there.”Gareth AinsworthManager, Gillingham FC
Ainsworth happy with defensive response in goalless draw
Gillingham boss Gareth Ainsworth said that there were clear improvements at one end of the pitch, but a lack of creativity at the other as Gillingham drew 0-0 with Newport County.
Describing the response to last week’s defeat as “pleasing,” Ainsworth said that there were reasons to be happy after a relatively drab afternoon at Priestfield.
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Simon Head
Founding Editor, Gills 365Follow Simon
A veteran sports journalist and editor with more than 25 years in the industry, Simon has written for major news outlets, broadcasters and sports organisations around the world. Simon is a longtime Gillingham season ticket holder, and has been a regular at Priestfield since the mid-1990s.
