Alfie Kilgour is ready for another challenge when Bristol Rovers travel to Gillingham in Sky Bet League Two.
The Gills will be looking to end the season strongly and turn their form around after losing their previous three fixtures, with their current place of 16th in the fourth tier not truly showing their capabilities.
Gareth Ainsworth's men were top of the league after nine games, with a 3-1 win over Newport County setting a club record 21 league games without defeat. However, only five league wins since then have seen them fall down the table, with the Gills unable to threaten the playoff spots or worry about relegation with nine games remaining.
Speaking to the media before the game against Gillingham, Kilgour knows Gillingham's strengths and is ready for the test.
"They’re obviously a very big, physical, direct side. Lots of assets, and it’s another big challenge," he said. "Obviously, in League Two, there are no easy games – away from home, it’s going to be a tough test for us and with the number of games that we’ve had coming thick and fast, everybody is going to be needed again."
The trip to Gillingham comes off the back of a successful Tuesday night for the Gas, with Tommy Leigh netting the only goal in a tight 1-0 victory over Shrewsbury Town at The Memorial Stadium.
Kilgour was pleased with the display, but with eight games remaining for the Gas this term, he knows there is still plenty of work to do.
“I thought that it was a professional performance from everyone, including the subs that had come on," said the defender. "Obviously, we went in 0-0 at half-time, with a clean sheet, and half-time was mostly about, ‘if we get that first goal, we should go on and win'. So, the clean sheet was important and a professional performance in the end."
He later added, "I mean, it’s still tight, and a lot of football needs to be played. But we’ve picked up some massive results in the last month or so, so they’ve left us in a bit of a healthier position.
"Although it’s not anywhere near what we would have wanted at the start of the season, it’s looking brighter, it’s looking a lot healthier now. We take each game as it comes, and ultimately, we just try to get three points. That’s all that you can do."
Rovers have been difficult to beat in recent weeks, which has been crucial to them collecting four victories in six outings. In that time, the Pirates have kept two clean sheets and conceded four goals, with Riley Harbottle indicating that the experience in the defence has played an important role after the victory over Shrewsbury.
Kilgour said the defensive group is tight off the pitch and highlighted Harbottle's performance, with the defender putting in a strong display against the Shrews after missing seven matches through injury.
"We complement each other well, and we’re obviously close off the pitch, which is important, and Riley did brilliantly," said Kilgour. "He’s come back from his injury and been out a while. So, for him to come back straight into the team and perform the way he did, for however long it was, 60, 70 minutes, was brilliant.
Another reason for Rovers' turn in form has been the January additions, with the incoming players helping at both ends of the pitch. In fact, since the end of the transfer window, every game that the Pirates have claimed either a win or a draw, one of the new additions has scored.
Whether it be a stunner from Kofi Balmer, a moment of quality from Tommy Leigh or Yususf Akhamrich, or a strike from Joe Quigley, with a superb run and finish from Kane Thompson-Sommers mixed in as well, Steve Evans' acquisitions are making an impact, with Kilgour impressed by them on and off the pitch.
"Things are clicking into place, and obviously the January signings have been massive for us as a team and a collective," said the captain. "They’ve had a great impact, which is important for fresh faces and new attitudes, new lads around the changing room.
"They’ve come in, and they’ve had a great effect. So, we don’t get carried away, we take each game as it comes, obviously, as you would know, and onto the next, which is obviously Saturday against Gillingham."
