We’ve got another EFL fan in the hot seat, today is the turn of Lewis Browning (Twitter Handle: @journolewis), who follows Gillingham.
How has this season been for your team?
It’s been a transitional season, I suppose. No one REALLY expected anything from Steve Evans’ first campaign in charge; I think we all just wanted a season without the threat of relation. We’ve had exactly that.
Until very recently we were on a 15-game unbeaten run that left us with a very serious shot at the play-offs. Our defeat last weekend, however, means we are now kind of stranded in mid-table. The push isn’t over, but it’ll be a huge task, now.
We’ve had some good times, particularly on that run. People enjoy going to home games again and we have much higher expectations, now.
Which game has been a particular high point and why?
Wins against Sunderland and MK Dons at home were nice for different reasons, but, if I had to choose one game, I’d go with the 3-2 win away at Blackpool last month.
We were on a good run but had drawn too many games, particularly away. We’d only won once away from home at that point and really needed the points.
We were terrible for 70 minutes. It was a long Tuesday night trip and we seemed destined to lose going into the last 20. We scored two quick goals to take a 2-1 lead, and, heading into stoppage time, we were clinging on. Nathan Delfouneso bagged a 91st-minute equaliser which I still think was offside and heads were in hands.
We only went up the other end and scored a winner in the 95th, though. The win was so important, and the nature of it was even better.
Which game has been a low point and why?
The Wimbledon game last week was pretty crap because it ended our unbeaten run, probably finished off our play-off hopes and all the ex-Gills boys that play for them were proper giving it.
I’ll have to go Oxford away earlier on in the season, though. We lost 3-0 and were so bad. Every time I’ve been to the Kassam we’ve lost and we were so far off it that day it was a joke.
Which player(s) is your Player of the Season so far and why?
Most fans would probably agree that it’s between Connor Ogilvie and Jack Tucker. Both will probably leave in the summer but they’ve been key to our strong defensive form this campaign.
If you’d asked me two months ago I’d have said Oglivie. Now, though, I’d say Tucker. Not that Connor has done anything wrong – Jack has just been incredible and has turned into a real Rolls Royce at the back.
Which player(s) have disappointed and why?
Lee Hodson and Ouss Cissé were summer signings that were expected to play key roles this season, but both are now out on loan and neither have a future at the club.
Out of the players still here, though, I hate to say it but it’s Brandon Hanlan. After a solid start to his Gills career last year he hasn’t really kicked on as a striker this campaign and he’s really struggled in front of goal. I feel he’s more a winger than a striker, and maybe deserves a chance out wide.
What are you expecting from the final two months of the season?
To be honest, I expect our season to die out now and we’ll finish roughly where we are currently. Most of our games are against those either right at the top or right at the bottom, so who knows, really? Maybe we’ll get back in the play-off mix, maybe we won’t – our next two games, against Sunderland and Fleetwood, will give us a good idea of that.
Either way, it’s been a positive campaign.
Lewis owns a ‘page’ named JournalForGills and, although we don’t focus on one platform and operate on many, the link to our blog is journalforgills.blogspot.com.
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