Gareth Ainsworth hails ‘togetherness’ as Gillingham grab draw

Gillingham manager Gareth Ainsworth praised the togetherness of his players after they struck late to earn a 1-1 draw at Prenton Park.

Omari Patrick had put Tranmere ahead on 63 minutes, racing onto Kristian Dennis’s through ball before finishing coolly past Glenn Morris.

Josh Davison had earlier headed over, while Taylan Harris fired wide from close range.

Robbie McKenzie missed with a header in Gillingham’s only notable first-half chance.

But just when it appeared Rovers had secured consecutive victories, substitute Joe Gbode levelled in stoppage time from a corner to secure a valuable point for the Gills.

Ainsworth said: “A point was absolutely a fair result.

“But if you’re going to count legal goals, we would have won that game one-nil as their goal was so offside.

“Officials have to get these decisions right and if we have VAR in this league that goal is ruled out.

“The resilience this group showed, and the persistence and the belief to score in the 92nd minute was amazing.

“We’re away from home and I set up to be solid and I wanted to bring something home today.

“The fans were absolutely unbelievable today and I was pumped.

“I am honestly so, so pleased with this group of players.

“We are a committed team and we are so proud of the togetherness that the group has got.

“The fans will know we’ve probably played better football but not had the results, you’re going to get that, it will come, but I’m going to get the results first.

“When the fans travel in the numbers we cannot help but give everything and empty the tank.

“We will never, ever give up and that was great to see at the end.”

Tranmere manager Andy Crosby chose to focus on the positives despite the late setback.

He said: “I was really proud of how the players stood up to the physical nature of the game.

“It was a game lacking in real quality really.

“We got ourselves in front, I think Kristian (Dennis) was a yard offside coming back, but it was a brilliant pass and a brilliant finish from Omari (Patrick).

“We defended a lot of set plays and a lot of long throws.

“We defended the one they scored from well, we got out to the edge of the box and their lad is a yard offside as well.

“I thought both goals were offside, it’s important I stress that.

“When you concede a goal in injury time everyone is obviously disappointed.

“But we stood up to the challenge and we know we have more quality in us, but to have that togetherness and fight we have gives us plenty to build on.

“During my spell as interim manager last season we had a couple of games where we were found wanting from a physical point of view.

“That wasn’t the case today, we stood up to the challenge, nobody is going to come here and bully us this season, it’s not going to happen.”