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Winger Hakeeb Adelakun believes their weekend FA Cup performance showed Gillingham have what it takes to get out of trouble in the league.
Gillingham had their moments against Premier League Leicester City on Saturday but the quality of the opposition made the difference. There was no lack of effort and desire from the Football League’s basement side, however, in the 1-0 third round defeat.
Adelakun said: “We did well, the boys got stuck in and we ground it out for each other.
“There were a few opportunities, we just needed that bit of luck, that bit of composure, they are a Premier League side so they take their chances and it shows the difference, but the performance was something we can be proud of.
“We need to take the positives and maybe add that clinical edge which has been missing for us but it is something we can build on definitely to take into the league.
“It is not often you get to play as many Premier League teams in one season as we have [Gills also played Wolves and Brentford in the League Cup], there has been excitement, it has been a great experience, but it’s also something we know we have to channel into the league to get ourselves out of the place we are.”
Gillingham come up against two fellow strugglers in their next two matches. Hartlepool United’s visit to Priestfield is followed by a match at Colchester the week after.
“The boys are ready for the battle,” Adelakun said. “We showed that we can stick together and put in a good team performance.
“We are ready to battle for each other, fight for each other, we are looking forward to it.”
Adelakun is on loan from Lincoln City for the season and has heard no mention of that agreement being cut short. New signings will make it harder to keep a place in the team but the 26-year-old is up for that challenge.
“The boys coming in will add competitiveness to all of us, it will be good,” he said.
“Bringing in new faces sometimes increases the intensity, increases everything, brings us up a level, hopefully it will add a bit of fresh air to the team and everyone will be battling together.
“I am here. My focus is on here. I have not heard anything different. All my attention is on helping the team get out of the place we are and get up that league.
“Results haven’t gone how we wanted, but we are pushing, we are working and I am very confident that it will change. All our focus is now on Hartlepool.”
Adelakun felt that a positive Priestfield crowd on Saturday helped them out in the game against Leicester.
“It was fantastic,” he said. “They got behind us, (gave us) that extra boost we needed. Unfortunately we couldn’t give them something to cheer about but it was brilliant having them there. It was a big boost for us.
“The boys also helped each other, loads of communication, everyone was putting themselves on the line for each other which is how it needs to be, we need to keep that going and push it onto the weekend.”
