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Gillingham manager Gareth Ainsworth was pleased with the attitude of his team after they returned home from Harrogate with a point.
The Gills still struggled for attacking returns against a side lower than them in the League 2 table but Ainsworth was pleased with the effort and character from the team after the 1-1 draw.
Report: Harrogate 1 Gillingham 1
Harrogate took the lead with a 40th-minute penalty and Ainsworth’s side responded as Max Clark scored one from the spot for Gillingham in the second half.
Goalscoring opportunities were in short supply until a flurry of late chances for both teams, with none taken.
Ainsworth said: “There was a little bit of nervousness around us, with a change of manager and a big week for the boys. I’m really proud of the character that they showed.
“[We’ve come] back from (a goal down) and it's a tough place. Harrogate are in the league every year because of their home form. Their home form is really good, and it's easy to get beat there.
“The pitch isn't great to play on and they're good at what they do. We warned [the players] about the set-pieces and ultimately (it was) two set-pieces, two penalties.
“The boys showed character in the second half to get back into it and could have gone on to win it. I think either team could have had a winning goal so I'm not going to dress it up in rose tinted glasses.
“There’s plenty of work to do. My eyes were open on a few players so, really pleased.”
With the Gills a goal down at the break and without a shot on target, Ainsworth was keen for them to play a bit more to feet.
He said: “They're almost a wounded animal and they're a bit scared sometimes. We need to go a bit more all-out, get that ball down, play some good attacking football.
“I think when we got the ball down second half, a couple of switches of play, getting the wing-backs in, getting behind them, I think that caused them problems and that led to the penalty actually, a couple of switches of play.
“When Jayden (Clarke) came on he injected a little bit of almost arrogance that ‘I'm going to take people on and get at people’. I want that no fear attitude from the boys.
“The fans were absolutely fantastic, really, really good. I didn't expect them to travel in those numbers, but (they were) absolutely behind the boys. I'm hoping they can see there's a little bit of a difference.
“We were a little bit long ball first-half, living up to my previous title at Wycombe probably, with Akinfenwa in the team.
“At half-time, I said, ‘Get the ball down’. ‘Can we have that extra touch? Can we play a little bit?’ There were some tough afternoons for some people but ultimately, taking a point away from home any week is a good point and it adds to our total.
“There's lots to work on with this team. We're a little bit nervous sometimes, defending a little bit uncertain at times and misjudging a couple of things with some silly free-kicks that we gave away.
“I want to work on that and going forward we can be a lot better. We can get that ball down.
“If I'm in total defence of the boys, when go away to places like Harrogate and they're quite direct, you get sucked into sort of a direct game and that can be apparent at times.
“You've got to win the battle sometimes and earn the right to play.
“At half-time, I said, ‘look, no worries. They've got a goal. You're kicking to your fans now. Let's get that ball down. Let's play the better football’ and I thought we did, second half, especially, and we deserve to get back into the game.”
