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The Shouting Men: Gillingham defender Joe Martin writes exclusively for the KM Group

Gills' Joe Martin at full stretch against Crewe. Picture: Barry Goodwin
Gills' Joe Martin at full stretch against Crewe. Picture: Barry Goodwin

We’ve got a lot of young boys in the squad and to play in front of 30,000 people is going to be a great experience at Coventry on Friday night.

Coventry are a big club and playing in Northampton wasn’t ideal. They should be getting 15-20,000 every week and now they can at the Ricoh Arena.

It’s going to be good for them but we’ll also enjoy it. We’re confident, with a couple of wins behind us, so there is no reason why we can’t beat them.

It’s on TV as well but it doesn’t matter if the cameras are there or whether we are playing in front of 10 people or 10,000. Once the whistle goes, you just concentrate on the game.

The win over Stevenage was a confidence-booster. We started well in the first half but they gradually put a bit of pressure on us. The boys did well and showed good character to go on and win the game.

It was strange to be lining up against Charlie Lee and Chris Whelpdale and seeing them in a Stevenage shirt but we kept it professional on the pitch.

Callum Davies captained us on the night and it was great for him. He is getting older now and gaining more experience all the time. He is still young for a central defender, he’s got plenty in his locker and he led by example.

There were a few boys out there who hadn’t played that many minutes, myself included, so it was good to get a game. I got a bit of a knock and went off at half-time. It’s a back problem but I’m hoping it will be OK for Coventry.

Gillingham defender Joe Martin
Gillingham defender Joe Martin

I’ve had a few niggles this season and was fearing the worst with the injury I got against Yeovil. At first I thought it was serious but after a few minutes it started feeling better and I didn’t want to go off on a stretcher. But as it was my knee, they didn’t want to take a risk.

Read the full column - including Joe on vanishing spray, his brother David at MK Dons, and fishing - in Friday's Medway Messenger

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