Gill: Change your mindset
By Derek Bish
Tuesday 16th February 2010
WEYMOUTH must react better to going behind if they are to
show some fight in a bid to rescue themselves from Blue Square
South relegation, manager Jerry Gill has urged.
The Terras, who travel to Welling tonight (7.45pm), have
not won a game after first falling behind for more than 15
months and have bagged just two points from losing positions
since then.
After conceding a calamitous third-minute opener at home
to Basingstoke Town on Saturday, Weymouth went on to ship
a total of six goals, all to the same player in striker Mitchell
Bryant.
“Our reaction to going behind is not good,” said
Gill. “It’s a mindset they have got into and their
heads go down when they go behind – we have to try and
address that.
“But it’s not easy because these lads have been
at the bottom all season.”
Jake Reid’s late equaliser against Newport County on
September 16 and David Obaze’s leveller on his debut
against Maidenhead United on August 18 are the only two occasions
in the last 61 league matches that the Terras have come from
behind to score a point.
Their last win from a losing position was a 3-2 thriller
over Eastbourne Borough in front of 931 at the Wessex Stadium
on October 4, 2008, when Stuart Beavon’s penalty cancelled
out Matt Crabb’s opener.
The Terras’ Chris McPhee put his side ahead, Matt Smart
equalised for Borough, but Pierre Joseph-Dubois popped up
with a last-minute winner.
The fighting spirit shown in that game to grab a late winner
was a far cry from what the crowd of 588 witnessed at the
same ground on Saturday, but Gill is glad he has a chance
to put it right so quickly.
He said: “I’m quite pleased we have another game
in short succession after Saturday because I would rather
be able to do something about it on Tuesday rather than wait
all the way through until Saturday.”
On top of their recent poor form, Weymouth have worries about
injuries and could be missing up to six players.
On loan midfielder Ben Farrell will have his hamstring strain
assessed by Cambridge United before deciding if he can play,
but it looks extremely doubtful.
Josh Llewellyn continues to struggle with an ankle injury
and took painkillers so he could play on Saturday, while Pierre
Joseph-Dubois (hamstring), Martin Slocombe (ankle knock) and
Matt Groves (tonsilitis) could also miss out.
Jordan Rose continues to be suspended and if all six are
unavailable, the likes of Ben Reiffer, Jordan Vincent, Carl
Foster and Ollie Tribe could be called into the squad.
But even though the Terras have been resoundingly beaten
in their last three matches, Gill knows they need to try and
find some stability.
“When you lose 6-0 you have to look at things but I
want to try and get some continuity in the team,” he
said. “The team I’ve inherited are down there for
a reason and it’s shown in the last few games.
“I wasn’t getting carried away after the Lewes
game because I could see there were problems.”
He added: “All I expect is commitment and a bit of pride.”
Terras (from): Sandercombe, Byfield, McGuinness, Brice, Mawer,
Frampton, Vincent, Slocombe, Groves, Farrell, Reed, Davies,
Reiffer, Tribe, Harris, Rose, Smith, Radcliffe, Reid, Llewellyn,
Joseph-Dubois, Benbow.
* Weymouth Supporters’ Travel Club will be running a
coach to Bath City on Saturday.
The coach will leave the Wessex Stadium at 11.15am and the
cost will be £14. To book a seat telephone Ian White
on 836361.
