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Solving one problem creates another
Recently Andy Hessenthaler expressed his concerns about the lack of clean sheets and took steps to address the issue in training. After twenty-two games this season the team had earned themselves a mere three clean sheets so far which, when compared to last season’s seven at the same point during a considerably more mediocre season, it was an area that urgently needed addressing to maintain any promotion push.
Not being privy to any work undertaken on the issue, whatever was discussed or implemented quite clearly worked as games twenty-three, twenty-four and twenty-five all ended with the opposition failing to score. Whilst this would usually be seen as a success, it did appear to create a new problem to resolve for it seems to have stopped the side from scoring. Quite what is now inhibiting any impetus the side once had I am not sure that anyone actually knows. But the most recent game away at Macclesfield ended goal-less with hardly any action worthy of discussion. That followed a similar result in the league at home to Bradford but thankfully, in-between, a 1-0 victory in the cup lightened the mood. Don’t get me wrong, Macclesfield are a better side this season and beat us 4-2 in April at Priestfield when we were pushing for promotion, so a draw is a credible result. Not only that, drawing away games and winning home ones will be the way out of any league. But, with a couple of decent chances squandered, this has to be seen as a chance lost to close in on the distancing leaders. And despite a wealth of experience at the back, the only outfield player to have played at least the majority off every game where clean sheets have been earned this season is Joe Martin – the defenders really need to help out the plethora of goal-scorers in the side!
So what is better? Scoring goals or not conceding them? Whilst the now six clean sheets are most welcome, those games have only produced five goals in reply with three of those coming at home against a Plymouth side at one of their lowest ever points. Two goal-less games and three 1-0 victories are the others. And yet this season we have won games in which we have conceded two or even three goals in. Another three goal haul for the opposition finished with a draw. Even the large victories where six were scored at Hereford and five went in at Torquay saw the Gills concede one and two respectively. So letting in goals isn’t always a major problem. Many accept that a 1-0 win is better and more secure than a 5-4 one but, considering the goal difference would be the same and goals scored would next come into play, that 5-4 victory would be more beneficial in any tied positions in the league table. And as many of the Gills seasons seem to be decided on other factors outside of how many points the team has achieved, perhaps a few more 5-4 wins and a few less 1-0 ones might be what earns promotion come May, providing a few more clean sheets are earned of course!
Posted by Gillingham fan Gary Wade
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