Gillingham manager Gareth Ainsworth reflects on the criticism that he and the players have taken recently but hopes fans will stick with his team through the tough times this season

Manager Gareth Ainsworth has told Gillingham fans to direct any criticism his way rather than towards his players.

The Gills boss understands the frustration among supporters after several seasons of disappointment in League Two but is urging everyone to stay positive.

It's been an up-and-down season for Gillingham so far, with some impressive wins and equally big defeats along the way.

The Gills bounced back from a 4-1 home defeat against Grimsby with a spirited 2-1 away victory at Shrewsbury on Saturday.

That result lifted them to just outside the League Two play-off places on goal difference, and only two points off third.

Ainsworth and his team have taken some criticism this season but the manager is keen to put himself in the firing line rather than see his players come under attack.

On receiving criticism, he said: “That's the job, the nature of the job. Every single manager comes into every single game with a bit of criticism.

“No matter if you win, people will say, ‘Well, we should have done this, we should have even done that more, we should have won by more’. It's part of the job.

“At Gillingham, it's been really tough for the fans, really, really tough. I understand that possibly there's a little bit more frustration here than most places, because they haven't had a promotion or anything to shout about for years and years, and I want to give them something to shout about.

“I'll take it. As long as, you know, it's constructive, I'll take it.

“My players, don’t come for them. They're doing their best, and if I don't think they're good enough, it's my job to change them.”

Ainsworth made changes to his starting line-up at Shrewsbury, bringing youngsters Harry Waldock and Logan Dobbs back into the side.

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