Gareth Ainsworth hails Gillingham after ending seven-match winless streak

Gareth Ainsworth hailed Gillingham’s 2-0 League Two victory at home to 10-man Accrington as they ended a seven-match winless streak.

The Gills secured their first triumph since February, thanks to goals from Andy Smith and Gareth McCleary.

Tyler Walton and Dave Abimbola were both sent off in the final 10 minutes for the visitors at Priestfield.

A relieved Ainsworth said: “It was a lot more like us which is great.

“I don’t want to get carried away with one win but I’ve been saying about the players who have been missing and I stand by that.

“When we’ve got injured players, it’s hard to put a team together.

“When you look at the four defeats we had, big defeats, hard defeats to take but we were under strength and we were probably playing some of the top teams in the league.

“It was a great performance, it really was. It was solid, working hard, good play.

“There’s still stuff to work on without a doubt, but to win at home was a big thing.

“There are lots of positives. There are still changes to be made, I will change this place – that needs to happen.

“But I hope people had that feeling from earlier in the season and from when I first came in.”

After getting back to winning ways on Good Friday, Stanley slumped to their seventh defeat in their last 10 games.

John Doolan said: “It wasn’t good enough. It just wasn’t good enough all over from start to finish so I’m not happy.

“It’s not good enough and the players know that – that’s all I can say really, I’m so angry.

“The lads have seen all the video evidence of what they do and I can’t remember the last time they’ve won at home to be honest.

“There’s an acceptance that you don’t get beat. There has to be that desire and mentality to not want to get beat from a set play. If you know a team is good from a set play, then what are you going to do to stop them?

“I’m angry because we’ve lost the game. The performance levels, you’ve got to be able to put two or three performances together and accumulate points like we did earlier in the season.

“How do you go from the performance last week to that this week? I don’t know. I will get answers, that’s for sure. I will not let the season fizzle out.

“People say it’s all done, but not for me. There’s three points to be won. We’re representing this badge, we’re representing the fans.

“I’m not accepting it and the players shouldn’t accept it.”