Gillingham 0 Oxford United 1

Match 73/16/1380 - Monday, 2nd January 2017 - League One

Gillingham (0) 0
Oxford United (0) 1 Dunkley 66
Attendance: 6,414

Entrance: Season Ticket
Programme: £3.00
Mileage: 58/5,362

Match Report

The events of the last couple of days have proved far more significant than the match itself. This was an horrendous performance from Gillingham, one that lacked any sort of game plan that led to a muddled, clueless display. There were players out there whose body language shouted at you that they didn’t give a damn and for that alone, Justin Edinburgh deserved the fate that befell him the following morning, the sack.

If this had been written directly after the game it would have been a rant because leaving Priestfield, I wasn’t disappointed, I was bloody angry with a season ticket that was destined for the bin. Edinburgh’s sacking has, at least for now, preserved my attendance for the rest of this season.

Adrian Pennock will now manage the club without the title but as head coach. Jamie Day, the Welling manager to whom Pennock was a consultant and Steve Lovell will make up his coaching staff. Pennock was a fans’ favourite as a player but his appointment has had a mixed reaction principally because of his managerial background in non-league. Whilst I would have liked to have seen somebody like Kenny Jackett get the job, the change alone has reinvigorated my interest.

Gillingham will not go down, of that I'm convinced. But for me to shell out the cost of a season ticket next season I want to be, at least, entertained for the rest of the season. I can never divorce myself of the club, too much water has passed under the bridge in the last 40 years for that to happen, but as they say about relationships, you can love but not necessarily like.