New boss will mean a new Gills approach
HOW Gillingham will approach today’s League One game against Burton Albion is a mystery, says Brewers boss Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.
The Gills sacked manager Steve Evans in midweek and Hasselbaink feels sure they will now play a different way under caretaker manager Steve Lovell.
It means that Burton will focus even more than usual on their own approach.
“They will definitely play a different way. I have heard the new manager say that he didn’t like the style of play of the previous manager when he was watching them so, with that comment, I think they will change,” said Hasselbaink.
Indeed, Lovell was quoted by the Kent Messenger as saying: “If it was my team, I wouldn’t be happy with the way they were playing or the way they were set up.”
Hasselbaink continued: “We don’t know what they will do, so it’s about concentrating on us and our identity. We’ll see when we get the teamsheet who is playing (for Gillingham) and the formation.
“I hope it works in our favour but we don’t want to speculate too much.
“We have to be sharp at the start, see what they do, cope with what they throw at us and try to play the football that we ended the game playing against Cheltenham.”
Gillingham’s Priestfield Stadium was, of course, where it all started for Hasselbaink when he returned to the club last January – the Brewers eking out a 1-0 win thanks to a debut goal from Hayden Carter and solid defensive effort.
“We had a really good 1-0 win, I remember it very clearly,” said Hasselbaink.
“Ben (Garratt) made a couple of really good saves that kept us in the game. We got three points and the belief started a bit there.
“It was a good result and it started to get the feeling of winning matches back.
“We want to go there and still have that belief and try to put on a better performance and show how far we have come.
“We want to try to control the game for longer periods.”
The manager confirmed that new signings William Kokolo and Gassan Ahadme would be in the squad, as, again, will be newly-fit striker Louis Moult.
Moult scored in midweek, with an assist from Sam Hughes, as Burton beat National League side Wrexham 4-1 in a behind-closed-doors friendly at St George’s Park. Jonny Smith and Bryn Morris were also among the scorers.
“It was a good top-up for some of those who haven’t been playing,” added Hasselbaink.
Gillingham have signed Watford goalkeeper Pontus Dahlberg on loan for the rest of the season after Jamie Cumming was recalled from his Gills loan by Chelsea. Dahlberg spent the first half of the season on loan with Doncaster Rovers.
Striker Charlie Kelman, who was on loan earlier in the season with the Gills from QPR, has returned to them for a second loan following Evans’ departure as manager.