‘The most important thing’ – Lions boss highlights pleasing aspect of pre-season draw at Gillingham

Neil Harris was pleased that all members of his squad came through their first pre-season test unscathed.

The Lions had their first competitive action of pre-season against Gillingham in Kent on Saturday afternoon with all players completing the required minutes without any injuries.

League Two Gills played hosts as the two sides played out a goalless draw.

“First and foremost, the most important thing is it looks like we came through unscathed,” said Harris.

“As you can see from the two line-ups, we’re very young at times and we’re missing a few players. So if we can get through unscathed, that’s the most important thing.

Harris fielded two teams one for the first half and one for the second.

Romian Esse, George Honeyman and Kevin Nisbet started both halves, with the Lions head coach confirming that was intentional for all three players.

He added: “George Honeyman is just a freak sometimes that can do it. Romain has been away with England and played minutes while away, so was slightly advanced on the group.

“And we felt that pushing Kevin Nisbet for another 15 minutes might just sharpen his feet up a bit. It was only those three players that went longer and that was all pre-planned.”

It was a squad that featured a lot of the club’s younger players with Harris stating he learnt a lot about the ones that could feature with the first team this season and having more of an idea of the ones that would need to go out on loan in the upcoming season.

“Everybody completed the minutes on the pitch and the running afterwards that they were supposed to, so that puts us in a really good place for pre-season.

“Did I learn from the group? Yes, I did. I learnt about some senior players again today, especially ones I’d not seen much of, and I learnt about the young players as well. The ones that maybe are a bit closer to us and the ones that probably need to get out and get some experience.”

Aidomo Emkahu was one of the players who was introduced at half time. He was denied by the crossbar and also forced Gillingham’s Glenn Morris into a decent stop. “I feel a bit for Aido. He’s been excellent in the first couple of weeks of pre-season but he hit the underside of the bar on Tuesday against Bromley as well.

“It’s bounced off the line twice so if he adjusted his radar by an inch, then he’d be alright.”