Midfielder Jonny Williams says time on Gillingham’s side - as well as belief - as they attempt to chase down promotion rivals in League 2
Published: 05:00, 21 November 2024
Midfielder Jonny Williams isn’t ruling anything out as Gillingham seek to make up lost ground.
The Gills return from a weekend off 10 points adrift of League 2 leaders Port Vale, who they beat last time out. There’s a five-point gap to the automatic promotion places.
Gillingham take on lowly Harrogate Town at Priestfield this Saturday looking to build on that win a fortnight ago.
“Until something's not possible, you keep believing,” said Williams. “It’s a long season and we’re a long way from the finish.
“It does feel like a very open league. You've still got the likes of Carlisle towards the bottom. They were tipped to go up at the start of the year and they've had a tough start.
“I wouldn't be surprised if they turn it around and end up in the top half of the table like we saw Doncaster do last season.
“Some teams take a long time to click and gel, and Doncaster proved what a crazy [division] League 2 is last year. Things can change very quickly
“Who knows what will happen? You can't predict this league, it's crazy.”
The Gills lost five successive league games last month, a run of results that led them to drop from top spot to mid-table. A draw at Swindon and a win over Port Vale has seen them head back in the right direction. Promotion is the only target this season.
“We need to make this place at Priestfield a fortress again,” said Williams.
“We were unbeaten for a long, long time here, and then we had a bad period but it was a great result against Port Vale back at home and a much better atmosphere. We gave the fans something to cheer about.
“When we were losing games there was still a strong belief within the squad. You look around and we think it's only a matter of time before we do change this, because the performances weren't terrible.
“There were still positives in some of the games we were losing, and we held onto that and worked with it.
“It was a bit of a change of formation as well. It was harder for teams to predict what we were going to do and we were a bit more fluid. We worked hard on things and it's changed, it's turned around slightly, so we'll see what happens.
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“We don't turn into a bad team overnight, and we don't turn into world beaters overnight. We have to keep our feet on the ground and keep working hard.”
Williams has been involved in most league games this season from the bench, starting twice, but with five substitutions available in a match there’s always that chance to have an impact.
“Everyone wants to start games, everyone wants to play 90 minutes,” he said. “Unfortunately, you can't always do that in football, so you have to be ready whenever you're called upon to make a difference.
“I think that was so important in the run of games we had when we were winning. The impact the subs made, they were always coming on and making the difference, and I was delighted to be a part of that and get the team over the line [against Port Vale].
“The manager likes to use the five subs, so we have to all be ready and play that part, whether that's 30 minutes, 20 minutes, 10 minutes, five minutes.
“I would have liked to have started more games this year, but there's been times before in my career I haven't always started, so I just want to contribute the best version of myself when called upon.
“You want to be involved in a winning team, and if you're doing well from the bench, you've got more chance of starting.
“We've got a big squad, we've got a talented squad, and we've got players coming back from injuries, so there'll be a lot of competition for places.
“You do your best in training, do your best on the pitch and support each other, whoever's chosen, and make sure it's healthy and we're one team.
“I think once we've got a fully-fit squad, you've got players then that might even get left off the bench. Football changes quick. You could be off the bench one minute, you could be on the bench, you could be starting the next week.
“It's important for everyone to stay as fit as they can, as healthy as they can, support one another and whoever's out there, just be confident, do your best.
“If you go to bed at night, having done everything you can throughout the week to prepare yourself, and you're in a good place mentally and physically on a Saturday to give the best version of yourself, then that's all you can do as a player really, and the rest is up to the staff and the management team.”
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Luke Cawdell