ROSLER: WE NEED COOL HEADS NOW
FLEETWOOD boss Uwe Rosler insists the club have reached unbelievable heights this season but warned their success will be based on what now happens in the play-offs.
The Cod Army came from behind twice and snatched an injury-time winner through Kyle Dempsey to keep their hopes of automatic promotion alive.
Rosler’s men remain two points behind second-placed Bolton Wanderers with one game remaining, and the German coach suggests the club needs to reflect on an amazing nine months for the club.
“The club has risen tremendously in the last eight or nine months and after that we need to reflect and see what we can do for next season wherever we are,” he said. “We need to have cool heads and think what we are doing. It’s unthinkable what we have done so far.
“Everybody is positively surprised about where we are this season.
“We have gone to unbelievable heights, but ask me after the play-offs if this is a successful season.”
Gills defender Zesh Rehman put the home side in front with a header from a Lee Martin corner after 34 minutes.
Town struck back in the 54th minute after a defensive mishap saw Ashley Hunter drill a low shot into Tomas Holy’s bottom corner from 18 yards out.
Rory Donnelly restored his side’s lead on the hour mark as his deflected free-kick fortunately squeezed through Alex Cairns.
David Ball levelled the match in the 79th minute, before Dempsey’s first-time strike in the box with seconds remaining clinched all three points for the away side to heap more pressure on Gillingham.
The Gills have now lost six of their last eight matches and have dropped to 20th after their second consecutive defeat, four points ahead of Port Vale who have a game in hand.
And that is making their manager more than a little bit nervous.
Boss Ady Pennock – who replaced Justin Edinburgh at Priestfield in January – admits his Gills side will endure an uncomfortable end to the season after conceding another late goal.
“The goals that we concede bamboozle me sometimes – its just not acceptable. It’s a poor result for us,” he said.
“We’ve been helped by other teams but I don’t sit comfortable because we are still relying on others to help us out and that is nowhere near good enough for us. I’m uncomfortable because we should be safe already but late goals are costing us.” Pennock also insists both himself and the players are playing for their futures after what has been a tough few months for the club. “I’ve aged about 25 years since I’ve been here – when I came here I knew what the situation was, but I need to speak to the chairman and we will go from there,” he said.
“My future is like the players, and we are playing for our futures.”