Gillingham head coach Stephen Clemence insists goalshy League 2 side are working hard on the training ground to boost goal tally

Gillingham head coach Stephen Clemence wants goals for Christmas after his team failed to score again on Friday night.

The Gills head into the festive period having netted just 19 times in 22 League 2 matches this campaign.

It’s nine goals in eight games under Clemence since he took charge for the FA Cup win at Hereford in early November.

“I’d love to see a few more goals, of course, like anybody,” said the head coach.

“I promise you we’re working hard on the training ground to try and improve on that but it’s been a problem here for a long, long time.

“I’ll keep working away on it, trying to do the right things and in time I’m sure it will get better.”

When asked if it was a matter of confidence with his strikers, Clemence responded: “I would have thought so. I think sometimes when you’re in good goalscoring form, everything you hit seems to go in.

“But when you’re struggling a little bit, you need one to go in off the backside if you like and end up in the back of the net.

“Confidence, of course, for strikers, they live on their goals and unfortunately this season there haven’t been enough.

“I can’t fault their efforts, the whole squad since I’ve been here. It’s not for a lack of effort. They’re doing the best they can, they’ll keep working at it and they’ll keep trying to improve and that’s all you can ask.”

The Gills host Crawley at Priestfield on Boxing Day, a game that will see Scott Lindsey, and former Gills no.2 Jamie Day, in the opposite dugout.

Lindsey was strongly linked with the Gillingham job when Neil Harris was sacked earlier this season but the Gills opted for Clemence.

“It will be another difficult game,” added Clemence. “Crawley play some good football.

“Scott has them playing some good stuff and