Ady Pennock: Reaction from Gillingham's head coach after 2-2 draw with Sheffield United
Published: 18:00, 21 January 2017
Ady Pennock was delighted with the point against Sheffield United but insists it’s only the beginning.
The Gills held the league leaders to a 2-2 draw, improving on their performance in Pennock’s first game, a 1-0 defeat at Oldham.
“It was great,” said the head coach, following the point at Bramall Lane.
“The character we showed was top drawer and it is just the start. We have to learn from it and enjoy it.
“We were up playing a fantastic club, who will get promoted; I am so sure of that. Chris Wilder (United manager) has done a fantastic job and they have some very good players. I am very proud of our players to have gone there and played like we did in the second half.
“I have to give the players a lot of praise, every one of them, including the subs who put a shift in.
“This is a squad and everyone will be part of it from now until the end of the season but we don’t want to rest on our laurels, we have had a fantastic result, but we have a really big game on Tuesday (at home to AFC Wimbledon).
“We have two home games (in succession) now. We have to regroup and the players will be in on Sunday.”
Gillingham had a fair share of fortune against the Blades but worked hard for the point.
“The GPS stats have gone through the roof,” said Pennock.
“I think that’s the most they have run this season, that is what you have to do. Running around is not a gift, it should be a given.
“We have got some gifted players here and I thought we deserved something from the game, just through the effort.
“We are not going to go there and start playing it out from the back, because this is a difficult place and they have a good squad. We defended well from the front and Cody McDonald worked his socks off.
“We had a little luck as well, where a couple of goals (that weren’t given) were offside, but overall it is a very good result.”
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Luke Cawdell