Ehmer defends Gills supervisor Harris

Centre-back Max Ehmer admits Gillingham’s gamers are letting down boss Neil Harris.

As supervisor, Harris takes the brunt of the criticism from the followers, with goal-shy Gills at the moment dealing with a second successive relegation.

However Ehmer stated: “I do not assume you’ll be able to query the robust man with the place he is been as a participant and supervisor.

“Final 12 months, with how far we had been adrift, simply happening on purpose distinction – when there have been occasions like Sunderland away the place we conceded a purpose within the final minute [in a 1-0 loss]. If we had stored a clear sheet there, we’d have stayed up.

“For some motive it isn’t working in the intervening time, nevertheless it’s not right down to him. It is right down to the 11 gamers on the pitch or the 14 or 16 – should you embody the substitutes approaching.

“We’ve to repay the belief he places in us and the work he places into us as properly.”

There have been at the least encouraging indicators in a goalless first interval on Saturday earlier than Gillingham misplaced their method of their secret League 2 defeat at Salford, 3-0.

Ehmer stated: “If we return to the primary half, that is precisely what a Neil Harris crew appears like. Then the second half, I do not know whose crew it appears like – it is simply not his!

“For what motive we won’t maintain it for 90 minutes? I do not know.

“It is one thing we’ve got to determine in a short time and nearly pay him again as a result of he places an increasing number of into the coaching and the movies he gives.

“There’s nothing on that aspect of issues that we miss. It is simply when the match day comes – we all the time have a spell within the recreation, no matter it’s – however we simply cannot stick with it for 90 minutes.”

The Gills stay second and 30-year-old Ehmer accepts they’re struggling to retain the membership’s Soccer League standing. In the event that they go down, it will likely be a 3rd relegation in a row for Ehmer.

“The desk does not lie,” he stated.

“We all know we’ve got greater than sufficient high quality within the dressing room to maintain us away from that, however performances and outcomes will not be matching that in the intervening time. In order that’s one thing we’ve got to cope with.”

In all, they’ve scored simply six league objectives in 20 video games this time period and have failed to search out the goal of their final six league video games – the primary time that has occurred since 1961.

Requested if he is ever been concerned in a scoreless streak just like the one earlier than, Ehmer replied: “No, I have never, to be honest.

“It is tough. It is clearly not a pleasant scenario to be in. However it’s one thing we as a gaggle speak about and know we’ve got to vary shortly. There is not any getting away from it.

“The gaffer does drills each day and each week to do with the ultimate third and the objectives are flying in however when match day comes nothing goes off. There is a component of luck concerned and in addition want and determination making.

“I do not query the need however we simply aren’t in the suitable locations when this stuff come down.”

And Ehmer says the squad at the moment lacks confidence.

“I am undecided about perception, however by way of confidence, sure, I feel the group lacks confidence,” he stated.

“The gaffer is doing his utmost to instill confidence in us. However there’s solely a lot he and the employees, as Livers [assistant David Livermore]can do.

“It comes right down to us on the pitch to verify we carry out. For 45 minutes on Saturday we did, however within the second half we did not.

“That is type of been the story of the season to this point. The constant ranges simply have not been there and that is why we’re the place we’re.”

Harris has not questioned the work charge of his gamers however this season he has questioned the management and attacking high quality of the group.

“I feel, to begin with, if the standard is not there, you all the time must work more durable,” Ehmer stated.

“This isn’t me stepping into the strikers or the boys within the closing third. I simply assume within the first half we had nice alternatives and we did not take them. However that comes from all of us.

“We’ve a great deal of set-pieces like me and Wrighty [Will Wright] and the remainder of us go up as a result of it additionally falls on us. As we have stated many occasions, the decision-making within the closing third must be higher – from everybody.”

However he denied options that the shortage of objectives made it more durable for them to maintain clear sheets.

He stated: “I feel as defenders we’ve got to be switched on – regardless of the end result.

“Clearly it could have been good to go 1-0 or 2-0 up with the way in which we carried out [in the first half against Salford] however that was not the case.

“Our job as defenders is to maintain a clear sheet, whatever the end result. We did not do this on Saturday so clearly we’re very disillusioned.”

Gillingham might be hoping for a response in an FA Cup second spherical replay on Thursday in opposition to Nationwide League Dagenham, 7.15pm kick-off, amid a busy festive schedule that can even see them face Premier League Wolves within the Carabao Cup and look to enhance their league fortunes.

Ehmer stated: “We’re clearly not going to look too far forward. We have the FA Cup second spherical replay so it is an opportunity to take a break from the league.

“It is not a cup closing as such, however should you lose 1-0 you’ll be able to afford to lose 3-0 since you’re out of the cup. In order a lot as we lack confidence, we’ll go into it the match with confidence.

“The gaffer will set us up and, with the way in which we carried out away [last month in a 1-1 draw]it is a recreation we’re wanting ahead to.”

There may be an uncommon schedule for the week, with the Gills’ recreation in opposition to Salford having began at lunchtime, a barely earlier kick-off for his or her FA Cup assembly and this weekend’s assembly with play-off holders Bradford a 1pm kick-off this Sunday.

However when requested if that affected preparations this week, Ehmer stated: “No, not likely. We’ve a schedule that we stick with.

“It is a barely longer break after which it is nearly like a Saturday-Tuesday so far as Thursday-Sunday is worried.

“Probably not, to be sincere. We’ll simply make sure that we’re ready for each video games.”