Bernard McNally column: Let’s have a Meadow repeat please Town

John Askey’s side did very well to win 2-0 against Southend almost a fortnight ago.

They got into the Shrimpers’ faces right from the off, showed some good phases of play and, obviously, scored some goals to get the three points.

Last weekend’s 1-0 loss at Scunthorpe was a setback, they didn’t really do themselves justice, but they have to remain positive – and I’m sure John will be saying that to the players.

Both Salop and the Gills are desperate for points.

It’ll be a tough one as Gillingham may set up defensively, happy to grab a point on the road, leaving Town with the task to break down those barriers.

Hopefully they can do so as three points makes such a difference – it could send them up three or four places in the table.

It’s important for Salop to bounce back from the disappointment at Scunthorpe.

They went with a 4-1-4-1 formation against Southend and I thought that worked very well for them.

I think, at this moment, they don’t need to panic – they don’t need to make wholesale changes or start with a vastly-different system.

There is still a long, long way to go and I reckon John will start with the same shape, to try to replicate the success they had against Southend.

But when you are not getting those wins, as a manager, you do think about what changes you can make to better things. And that’s normal, because you’re under pressure.

It’s easier for us in the stands. We can say ‘Maybe he should go to a 3-5-2, get two strikers on’.

I’m confident he’ll stick with the formation for the beginning, but there’s no harm in thinking of one or two different shapes – having an ace up your sleeve, a plan B.

Then if it doesn’t go quite according to plan, there is room to change things around – to freshen things up a little bit. Then you can gauge the players’ reactions, how they are feeling about it and whether they suit the change.

It’s about seeing how the first half, in particular, goes.

I remember when I was managing Telford, I told quite a few people that I didn’t want to play a 3-5-2.

Then circumstances meant we did do it, and we went on a 26-game unbeaten run and ended up getting promoted.

Sometimes, as a manger, you don’t choose the formation – it chooses you.

It’s funny how football can turn out like that sometimes.