The Dugout Diaries: Gills v Rotherham

Hi all…. Doug here!

I must apologies for the tardiness of this report. The Man has got me working hard at the moment, (as has Mrs Doug!). Since we have seen some decent results away from home since the Rotherham game.

Rotherham beat us earlier in the season in what was one of the most depressing spells the club has seen for a long time. Since then we have started to turn the corner. Home form is getting better, and on the back of our 3-0 win against Swindon, there was an anticipation of a good result occurring.

Jeppo: On rollocking duty early on

First Half

It didn’t take long for Ronnie to start berating his players as the Gills came out of the blocks with all the speed of Russell Grant. Alan Pouton was a source of frustration as pass after pass went astray.

Rotherham manager Alan Knill was as quiet as a mouse the whole first half. To be honest, the ex defender didn’t look like a footballer. More a librarian!

Ronnie on the other hand is loud, but only when he needs to be. He seems to have developed a style of letting the team express themselves, as they seem to realise what their role is within the team. This was certainly not the case under Neale Cooper. Ronnie will only bark if a player doesn’t look like he is committing himself properly.

He is also good in pointing out to the substitutes what should have been done if a player makes a mistake. Neil Harris missed a glaring opportunity. Ronnie turned round to Gavin Grant and told him what he should have done.

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Second Half

Talk about Jekyll and Hyde! Alan Knill ranted and snarled his way through the whole second half. Ronnie complained to the referee did not give a free kick for a tackle on Tommy Black. A minute later the ref gave a free kick Gills way for a slight challenge on Black again.

“Bloody hell ref!” yelled Knill, “You only gave that because he complained just now!”

Ronnie fuelled the fire by grinning and nodding back at Knill. So the ranting continued.

A lapse in defence let Rotherham take the lead. Ronnie just stood there with arms aloft. Luckily Grant was on hand to turn in Tommy Black’s cross to snatch a point for the Gills.

And that’s how it ended. A very lacklustre game, but our unbeaten run extended.

Heckle of the day: The Rotherham bench were in stitches when one wag shouted: “Put Monkhouse on and give us all a laugh.” Poor Andy Monkhouse looked sheepishly on while his colleagues couldn’t contain themselves. With friends like those eh!

Well, Tranmere this weekend, let’s see if we can carry on the good work.

Until next time Dugout fans!

Doug… out!