Gillingham looking to get back on course against Southend United

Gillingham will be heading to Southend on New Year’s Day no
longer top of the league.
The Gills started the Christmas period sitting five points clear
at the top of League 2 but defeat to Barnet and a postponed game
against Northampton left the door open for Port Vale to
capitalise.
Saturday’s game at Priestfield was postponed 24 hours earlier
due to a waterlogged pitch but Gills visit fourth-placed Southend,
who lost their first match in 15 games at the weekend, tomorrow
(New Year’s Day).
The Gills will be aiming to improve on their last showing, where
a poor first half laid the platform for a shock home defeat to
Barnet. But rather than rant and rave, boss Martin Allen will be
hoping to steer his team back on course.
He said: "You have to try and help them. We didn’t set out to be
that yard slower. They don’t set out to do that when they leave the
dressing room.
"You need to be firm, assertive and encouraging. Players don’t
like coming off when they have just been booed. It hurts all of us
and I don’t like it either."
Kick-off at Roots Hall is at 1pm and tickets are available on
the gate.
30/12/12
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