More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
Safety is all-but assured for Gillingham following their Good Friday win over Plymouth.
But there won’t be any easing off from the players, insists coach Ian Cox.
The management want to finish the season on a high and a win against Bradford on Monday will end any faint doubts that Gills could still be embroiled in a late relegation scrap.
Heading into their Bank Holiday fixture at already-relegated Bantams, the Gills are six points clear of the drop zone with three matches to play.
Cox said: “It is still mathematically (not certain). We have to be professional about how we go about our daily routine until it’s put to bed.
“The last thing we want is to take our foot off the pedal.
“We have a game against Charlton (at home on Saturday) and then go to Blackpool (on the final day) and we don’t want to be in a position where we still need a point to secure it.
“We still need to make sure when we go to Bradford we go with a professional attitude.
“We’re almost there but we can’t afford to be complacent. We’ve still got a job to do, we still need to make sure we get our foot over the line.”
There were big celebrations on Friday as the Gills overcame a half-time deficit to beat Plymouth 3-1.
It left their visitors just two points above the relegation zone but the Gills well clear, sitting 13th.
“There was an air of jubilation, there was a little relief,” said Cox.
“There are different emotions you go through in the game. Getting to the 90th minute and getting the three points, it was a joyous occasion because we are almost there now.
“We have put ourselves in a good position in order to safeguard our League1 status.”
Cox has been involved in relegation scraps as a player but admits it’s been tougher watching the events unfold from the sidelines.
He said: “When you are on the touchline it is a bit more difficult, purely because it is out of your control.
"When you are on the pitch you have a degree of control on the outcome of the game.
“When you are off the pitch you are passing the baton over to the players to take the bull by the horns and in that aspect it is a little more difficult.”
