Gillingham manager Steve Evans says victory at Blackpool is vital to remain in the League 1 promotion race

By: Luke Cawdell lcawdell@thekmgroup.co.uk

Published: 06:00, 11 February 2020

It’s now or never time for Gillingham.

Another draw on Saturday at Burton – Gillingham’s 13th in 29 league games – left them sitting mid-table in League 1, eight points adrift of the play-off places.

Gills boss Steve Evans Picture: Ady Kerry

No team in the league have drawn as many games as the Gills, with 10 of those coming away from home, and manager Steve Evans knows a win at Blackpool on Tuesday is vital if they want to stay in the promotion hunt.

“We are battering teams every week so we should be winning,” said Evans.

“I had a coffee with the manager of the league leaders and he said to me ‘nobody wants to play you because you are taking teams apart but not finishing it off’. That is why we went away disappointed (on Saturday).

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“We knew it was a big game to win. We looked at who was playing each other and we spoke about it in our team meeting. That is why there was so much disappointment among the players (after the goalless draw).

“You didn’t see myself or the players clapping or happy, their heads were down because they knew it was an opportunity. Opportunities soon go.

“We should have won two or three more and we should have won on Saturday. It’s what is costing us but we were solid, organised and disciplined. The boys have given us everything, which is the minimum we asked.

“We have to win some games now, we need to go to Blackpool and win, which is arguably as hard as going away to Burton.”

Blackpool halted a miserable run of form on Saturday, a 2-1 win over struggling Southend ending a two-month wait for a victory.

Simon Grayson is their manager, someone who has enjoyed success with the Seasiders before, leading them to the Championship from League 1. He’s done it with Huddersfield and Leeds United, too, and is a man who Evans holds a lot of respect for.

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“They have excellent players and an outstanding manager who is Promotion Charlie in this league and someone I have the utmost respect for,” said Evans.

“All the times we have played against each other, we go to war, but he is a man I like.

“They changed ownership (in the summer) and it went from no money to all of the money.

"They have got a good manager, they have spent it wisely, every player I have seen Simon sign I have looked and thought, ‘good signing’, when you do that you know that they are building something.

"But we will prepare properly and we will go and do battle on Tuesday.

“Simon Grayson will build a team because he is a specialist in this league isn’t he?”