On Saturday, Gillingham player-manager Andy Hessenthaler was suspended for the Division One fixture at Crewe so he selected David Perpetuini in his place and my how the stand-in performed, scoring a stunning equaliser to earn The Gills a point in the 1-1 draw. After the game Brian Beard spoke to the Gillingham player-boss.
Q. HOW WOULD YOU ASSESS THE GAME?
A. It was a very good performance by us. We have played Crewe twice now in the last few weeks. We won at our place and we really should have won here with the amount of ball we had. The performance was good but we just needed that clinical finish to cap the day.
Q. WOULD YOU CONSIDER IT TWO POINTS DROPPED BY GILLINGHAM?
A. I think so on the basis of the fact that we had a lot of opportunities but we needed a bit more quality in the final third and if we had that we would have taken the three points.
Q. BUT STILL IT WAS A GOOD POINT AWAY FROM HOME?
A. Yes, we knew it was going to be a hard game because Crewe had won their last four at home so they are a very good side on their own ground. But we worked very hard and stopped them from playing and in the end we did just that for long periods. They have some very good young players in their side, especially the two up front who are very difficult to play against, but we kept them quiet, especially in the second half, and didn't allow Crewe to dictate the game.
Q. WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THE TWO GOALS?
A. I was a little disappointed with their goal. Jason, our keeper, will be a little disappointed because the ball was a little flat for him to come and try and collect, he should have let the defenders deal with that. He knows he has made a mistake but he hasn't made too many since he came into the team. But our goal, that got us back into the game, was fantastic and has got to be one of the best I have seen, a fantastic shot. But 'Perps' has got a great shot when he gets on to his left foot.
Q. IT WAS A GOOD TIME TO EQUALISE?
A. Yes, early in the second half and that's why I thought we would push on from that because we had so much of the ball. But we didn't so we have to go back and consider the striker we need at this football club who's going to be a bit more clinical. We brought Terry James in today on the right and we had Sidibe up front. He may be a bit of a handful but he doesn't score enough goals so will be trying to bring another forward in.
Q. YOU BROUGHT PERPETUINI IN, FOR THE SUSPENDED MANAGER, AND THE MANAGER IS GOING TO FIND IT HARD TO LEAVE HIM OUT NOW?
A. He has come in and done very well whenever called upon. He came in against Crewe at our place and did very well then and we won that game. I then left him out for the next home game, and I left myself out, and we lost to Wimbledon, but yes 'Perps' had a good game , like most of them, but he does give us good balance on that side. I have told him what he needs to do to stay in the side and that is to do it on a bit more consistent basis but he certainly hasn't done himself any harm with today's performance.
Q. IT MUST BE FRUSTRATING AS THE MANAGER TO DOMINATE AND NOT GET THE EXTRA POINTS BUT THERE IS ONLY SO MUCH YOU CAN DO?
A. Yes, we knew they were going to be a hard proposition especially when you consider they have beaten Sunderland and Reading here but we have come here and been the better side. We had so much possession and only come away with a point but I am pleased with our performance we just need that 'fox in the box' type and that's what we will be looking for - but then so is everyone else.
