Gill: Don't get carried away
By Derek Bish

Monday 1st February 2010

JERRY Gill warned his Weymouth charges that they are still in the mire, even though the Terras lifted themselves off the bottom of Blue Square South with victory over Lewes in the new manager's first game in charge.

The 39-year-old ex-Birmingham full-back made his mark in the all-important six-pointer by changing formation at half-time to help guide his side to a 3-1 win.

Stephen Reed and Jake Reid got the vital second half goals after Josh Llewellyn and Lewes' Joe Keehan had made sure the match was tied at the break.

“We know we are in the mire so this is a very small step on a long road to try and get us safe in this league,” said Gill. “I came in and took my first session on Thursday night. I have implemented my ideas about how I want things to go and they have shown a work ethic out there that I have always had as a player.

“Andy Harris alongside me has bought into the way I want to play and together we’ve got that result.

“I’m delighted for everyone at the club but I’m not going to get carried away with it.

“It is a nice feeling winning the game but it is one game of football and we’ve got a tough run-in now.”

It was hard to tell whether Gill would experience that winning feeling in his first game in charge after a nervy first half ended 1-1 at the Wessex Stadium on Saturday.

But his bold decision at the break to switch formation paid off in a big way.

“At half-time I have had to make the decision to change things tactically,” he said. “Joe Keehan was getting on the ball a lot and was dominating the midfield against our two so I’ve gone with three in there and brought on Jordan Rose in the second half.

“We needed to smother up that midfield and we did that, left Jake Reid up on his own with Josh Llewellyn playing a little bit wider – it was maybe a little lop-sided but it worked for us.

“Sometimes you have to make these decisions at half-time and in my first game it was a big one but it has come off for me so it’s pleasing.”

Gill will be able to enjoy a 100 per cent record as manager going into the Terras’ next game, away at Eastleigh tomorrow night (7.45pm), and that is what his attentions have already turned to.

“I enjoyed my trip back up to the Midlands on Saturday but I can’t get too excited about things, it’s not in my nature.

“I love football, it is in me and in my blood and it is great to get that first win.

“Hopefully I’m a lucky manager but there are going to be lows in this – I know there are going to be lows – that’s why you have got to stay in control of your emotions.

“You can’t get carried away getting too excited or disillusioned or disappointed because if you start doing that then it shows on your players.