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Gillingham first team coach Nicky Southall writes exclusively for the KM Group

By: KentOnline reporter multimediadesk@thekmgroup.co.uk

Published: 08:00, 19 August 2011

Gillingham manager Andy Hessenthaler and first team coach Nicky Southall on the touchline during Gills 2-1 win at Crewe Alexandra

Tuesday's game at Barnet felt like a defeat in the end after conceding the equaliser so late but we need to remember it was a draw and a point and it’s another game unbeaten.

On reflection, it was probably a fair result and we can’t argue with it. Hopefully, we’ll look back at the end of the season and see it as a valuable point gained.

Jack Payne scored with a great finish and I was buzzing for him. Funnily enough, just a few minutes before that goal, he hit a cross-shot into the keeper’s arms and I told him to put his foot through it next time and he then pops up with a fantastic strike. As the saying goes, if you don’t shoot you don’t score.

It’s been great to see Danny Spiller also on the scoresheet in the last two games. He has always been renowned as a goalscoring midfielder and hopefully he can continue that run now.

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The first of his two goals last week came against Crewe and we were delighted to leave there with three points.

It was a good weekend for the team and the first away trip for a few of the new boys which meant the usual initiation routine where we got them to sing.

Paulo, the young Argentine keeper, needs improvement and I don’t know if it was just his Spanish accent. I requested Don’t Cry For Me Argentina.

Ross Flitney has also been christened Borat by a few of the boys due to his striking similarities. We haven’t seen him in a mankini yet though, nor do we want to!

We know we are still short upfront and are desperately trying to get someone in.

The fans just need to be a bit patient, though, as we are making sure we get the right character into the club. They have to be right for us. We are having to sift through the many CVs we get sent and the phone calls we are getting from agents.

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There is no need to panic at the moment and we need to make sure, like we did in the summer, that we get the right player here. If we rush into something we might end up regretting it in a few weeks, so we won’t do that.

We’ve been doing our checks on players and if we didn’t, we wouldn’t be doing our job properly.

It may have been the manager’s birthday on Wednesday but there was no day off as we arranged a practice match.

A few of the boys needed games and it was good to see Danny Jackman and Garry Richards among those out there getting valuable minutes in against Dagenham.

Plymouth arrive on Saturday with a takeover hanging over their heads and with players not getting paid, it must be an uncomfortable time there.

We’ve got to be focused on ourselves, though, and try to keep our run going and get three points. If we do that, we will still be in the mix.

We set ourselves a points target every month and if we can achieve a victory, then we’ll be there or thereabouts with a game in hand.

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