Pennock won’t mope
Gillingham Hockey
Gillingham boss Ady Pennock is keen to forget all about Tuesday’s hammering.
For the second time this season, the Gills were beaten 4- 0 by Bolton, this time on home soil.
It followed Saturday’s amazing win against Scunthorpe – Josh Wright scoring a hat-trick of penalties as they fought back from 2- 0 down.
Pennock’s side are not mathematically safe from relegation and they travel to Rochdale on Saturday still looking for points to make survival a certainty.
The head coach said: “It’s a game that we have to put under the carpet, move on and look forward to Saturday.
“There was a gulf in class. That is the way it is. We have won three out of the last five games and have to make sure we recover and then look forward to Saturday because it’s another big game, another cup final.
“I said to the players they need to learn from it and forget about it and make sure they are nice and bright when they come in Thursday (today).
“There is no point sulking or moping around, we need to pick them up. I tried to do that after the game. We have to take it on the chin and bounce back.
“I said stuff before the game what I wanted to do and they didn’t do that but I didn’t shout and holler at them because they have been fantastic for us.”
Gills are still seven points clear of the bottom four in League 1 but fourth-from-bottom Port Vale have three games in hand over most of the teams around them.
The home fans at Priestfield on Tuesday made their feelings known, with many booing the players off. A large portion left early.
Pennock said: “They all realise the situation and went to a game and saw a good team. I am not going to dress it up and say we were great and this and that.
“It was a poor performance but they made us poor, they were strong all over the pitch. It wasn’t through the lack of trying and we didn’t give up.
“It’s easy to throw in the towel when you are 3- 0 down but we kept going. The boys have been top drawer for us, they have been fantastic since I have been here.
“We just have to look forward to Rochdale and bounce back.”
Gillingham could be missing another midfielder for the trip to Rochdale on Saturday.
Ollie Muldoon picked up a knock towards the end of Tuesday’s defeat to Bolton.
Gills were already without fellow midfielders Chris Herd (knee), Scott Wagstaff (knee) and Wright (suspended). All three are set to miss the trip this weekend.
There might, however, be a return for Ryan Jackson, who has been suffering with injuries all season.