‘I want to see that Rainham End going mental’

Gillingham manager Gareth Ainsworth is looking forward to his first game in charge at Priestfield tonight. Ainsworth took over last week ahead of the game at Harrogate Town, which ended in a 1-1 draw , and the Gills return to Priestfield tonight (Tuesday) to take on play-off hopefuls Colchester United. The new boss knows the importance of the fans and hopes he can give them something to enjoy.

He said: “I want to see that Rainham End going mental and trying to suck that ball in the goal. “I know what it was like against them. We need them.



“People say the 12th man, it's 12th, 13th and 14th man sometimes. That Rainham end when it gets going can be awesome. “We used to turn Gillingham around (at the kick off) when we played there so they weren't kicking that way in the second half, because it is one of those ends that you're thinking, ‘Right, they're kicking to their home fans, it can be tough that’.

“I'm hoping the fans get on board with what I'm trying to do. It won't go smoothly all the time but I always say that when you get behind us in the worst times, then the good times are so much better, because you were there when it was tough, and when we slightly lost our way, but we're trying to put it right, and that's my message to the fans. “I believe that the club has been through some real tough times, some real testing times over the last two or three years.

“It does take time, so the time again ( on a two-year plan ) was definitely an attractive option (to the job) because you can't come in and change it around in six months. There's no chance. “You do need time in this game and it's not often given, but to have that message from the owners, the job is very attractive for us.

” Ainsworth admitted he could feel a bit of nervous energy in his first game at Harrogate, but in a message to those supporters that helped them fight back for a 1-1 draw, he said: ”You can almost feel a little bit of nervousness with the crowd. “Just get behind us. Just don't worry about it.

Just let it go fans because you are brilliant. You really helped us in the second half. The players will say that.

They ran over right in front of the fans to celebrate. That's what I want. We're all together in this.

” Ainsworth will be without captain Armani Little again as he sits out the second of two games through suspension. Robbie McKenzie captained the Gills at Harrogate. “He had a real battling game in midfield,” said the Gills boss of the matchday skipper.

“Rob is a real player. He can play, which is great but he grafted. “I didn't want him to be on the end of a losing performance with the armband on.

” Missing from the squad was club captain Max Ehmer with Ainsworth opting to have Shad Ogie on the bench instead to provide cover in central defence. He said: “I changed that up. Shad coming in as defensive cover.

It's my decision as manager who I put in the squad and who I don't. “There's a big, big squad here. Keeping everyone happy is going to be tough but we'll definitely change it up and I think we'll have to slim it down for next season.

All positions up for grabs at the moment.” Colchester’s play-off push has suffered a setback after losing their last two games - those defeats coming off the back of a five-game winning streak..