Gills take all three points at Priestfield

By Jack Nolan
January 27 2007

Gillingham earned their first win of 2007 on Friday, after defeating Tranmere Rovers in front of the SkySports cameras. Goals from Tranmere's McGeady and a thunderbolt header from Gillinghams Andrew Crofts ensured that Jepson won the battle of the two Ronnies.

Gillingham.2.0.Tranmere Rovers
Coca-Cola Football League One
Priestfield Stadium
26/1/2007

It was a party atmosphere at Priestfield, as Gillingham welcomed the SkySports cameras to Priestfield to see The Gills secure their first win of 2007.

Gillingham's Matt Jarvis and Mark Bentley passed late fitness test's to attempt the double over Tranmere, after The Gills won the reverse fixture at Prenton Park.

The first real chance of the game came in the sixth minute. Mike Flynn's long throw in found Bas Savage who flicked the ball onto Andy Crofts who headed just over the bar.

The Gills were dominating the game, and took the lead on the twenty-minute mark. Danny Jackman's free kick was turned in by Tranmere's Chris McGeady under pressure from Bas Savage.

Matt Jarvis was trying to impress in front of the cameras, and attempted a long range effort only to see it go well wide of the Rover's goal.

Tranmere never looked like scoring in the first half with The Gills bossing the first half. The Gills then doubled their advantage over Rovers on the half-hour mark. Mark Bentleys cross found the un-marked Andrew Crofts who unleashed an un-stoppable header to give the Gills a two goal advantage.

With the interval fast approaching, The Gills were incensed to not be awarded a penalty. It appeared that the ball was blocked by a hand of a Tranmere player inside the box only for Mr. Armstrong to give nothing.

The Gills went in at half-time and were easily the better side.

Tranmere and Gillingham however came out different sides. The Gills seemed incapable of keeping the ball for longer than five seconds, Tranmere however seemed unable to stop hitting the woodwork.

Chris Shuker was the first to hit the woodwork. when his powerful striker smashed the under-side of the cross-bar much to the relief of the Priestfield faithful.

It was then Chis Greenacre to smash the post and then somehow, Gillingham's on loan 'keeper Romain Larrieu recovered to pull off an acrobatic save to deny Davies.

Larrieu was impressing on his debut and his stunning long throw set Matt Jarvis through, only for Jarvis to smash well wide of the target.

It was then Mullin to be denied by the woodwork, who's effort was denied by the post.

Late on in the game, Matt Jarvis was booked for time-wasting despite taking the throw before Armstrong told him to hurry up.

But much to the relief of the Gillingham crowd, Mr.Armstrong blew for full time. The win lifts the Gills into the top half of the table, whereas Tranmere misssed out on a play-off spot.

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VIEWS

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RONNIE JEPSON

They had a proper go again tonight and gave me what they gave me at Swansea on Tuesday night, to be fair. Tonight, I thought we played with a touch more tempo, especially in the first half, and I thought we took the game to Tranmere. We created chances and got plenty of balls into their box and defended resiliently throughout the team. Bas Savage and Gary Mulligan, they set it off for us. Bas has got a contract on the table until the end of the season so hopefully he will be signing that.

"It is pleasing for me but I think it is more pleasing for the players. They come under the cosh and get nervous at times. The supporters who were at Cheltenham last week, and the ones who followed us to Swansea on Tuesday, I was pleased for them. I'm not saying that to pacify anybody as it has been hard this year to get results, especially in the New Year. For the lads themselves, and the supporters, I am really pleased for them.

"We haven't got an awful lot to pick from at times but the players I have got, they have a lovely togetherness and do things right when they can. Like I have said before, and I am not being disrespectful to my players, they know we have got deficiencies in certain areas of our team but we keep trying to improve on them. When they give me their all, like they have done in their last three games even though the two games previous to tonight - the results were disappointing, I cannot fault them. Tonight, we kept at it and they had belief. We played against a good side tonight. Tranmere Rovers are no mugs and they will be up there at the end of the season, make no bones about that. They have got good experience with the likes of Chris Shuker and Gareth Taylor, and they are decent lads, so I was quite pleased to come away with the three points tonight.

"I needed to freshen it up. I looked at the Tranmere side and I knew Shuker would cause us problems. I thought it would suit Danny Jackman more than Clint Easton. Since 'Jacko' has been out of the team, he has been a credit to himself with the way he has applied himself and kept going. I had no qualms about putting him into the team as he has done it for me before and he came in and done well, as did Brent Sancho. I think though that it was a team performance tonight with the tempo and defending as a team, which started from the front, so I am very pleased.

"Romain Larrieu has been smashing for us. He looked comfortable in everything that he did tonight. I am really pleased with him. He has a good understanding with the back four and he has only been here since Tuesday! I've not had much time to work with him but he has taken things on board. He has a lovely demeanour about him off the pitch and he would be a player that I would like to keep hold of. I know all about his credentials as I've seen him play in the Championship. I spoke to Ian Holloway and he has done me a big favour and helped us out with one or two things to get the deal for him to come here. I am pleased that Ollie did that but I cannot comment about the future until I have spoken to Ian Holloway.

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MATT JARVIS

It was brilliant. You always want to be playing in every game. The win is massive for our confidence as we have had some good displays over the past few weeks but didn't get the result. To get the result with the performance, it is brilliant.

"With the games that we have had previously, it has been unbelievable for us to not get a point .We can take loads out of this game. With performances like that and goals like that, it is brilliant and we can push on."

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ANDREW CROFTS

"It was nice to get the three points as we haven't won yet this year. It was a big game for us and luckily, we got that early goal and then went on to score another. It was a good start for us and we're happy to take that on and get the win.

"I am over the moon to get on the scoresheet but it was important to get the three points. They put a bit of pressure on us in the second half and they come at us but when I saw them hit the post, I thought it was going to be our night. We hung in there and it was good to get the three points."

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RONNIE MORE

"The first half was an absolute shambles. I'm totally embarrassed that a side of mine could crumble like that. There was no heart and no commitment. We had the opportunity to go fifth and threw it away.

"For the second half you can give them a pat on the back for the way we came out but we've been soft centred down the middle. We can't defend like that. Our defending in the first half was like a pub team at times. As the manager of the club I expect better.

"We've got a tough game coming up and we've got a week to put it right. They'll be working morning and afternoon. We've got a great opportunity to get out of the division but with performances like that we'll stay in it.

"Even then [the second half] we were soft centred. We hit the post twice and the keeper made a couple of good saves but we weren't on the front foot and didn't have the killer instinct."

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STATS

Gillingham dominated possesion-wise overall with 53% of the ball. Tranmere tested Larrieu more than The Gills tested Day, with Rovers shooting 9 times on goal and Gills on target 5 times. Gillingham missed more chances seeing 11 go wide of the goal, Tranmere missing the target five times. Tranmere won 6 corners to The Gills' 2, with the Gills committing more fouls than Rovers with 10 to Rovers' 8.

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GFC Online Man of the Match

ROMAIN LARRIEU

Despite some dodgy kicks, his shot stopping was fantastic and was determined to keep a clean sheet on his home debut. Hopefully he shall sign until the end of the season.

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