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Gillingham defender Shad Ogie reacts to victory over MK Dons and the managerial situation at Priestfield

Gillingham defender Shad Ogie insists the focus is on the pitch as they await the appointment of a new manager.

There’s plenty of speculation over who will be taking over from Neil Harris and when, but centre-back Ogie won’t be getting caught up in it.

Gillingham defender Shad Ogie Picture: @Julian_KPI
Gillingham defender Shad Ogie Picture: @Julian_KPI

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Speaking after the weekend win over MK Dons, Ogie said: “It was a strange week. Before the game, we all knew we had to dig deep, we had to get the three points. We were at home and the boys were magnificent to get the three points.

“It was a bit of a shock (when Neil Harris was sacked), a bit weird, but we are all professionals and we knew we had a game Saturday, all of our focus was on Saturday, of course it was upsetting but end of the day we tried to perform and deliver on the weekend.

“(The new manager) is not my main focus, whoever comes in, we will respect them. It is not in our control.”

The Gills won 2-1 over MK Dons, both goals coming from lapses in concentration at the back for the visitors.

It was something Ogie says they were expecting.

He said: “We knew that they had some mistakes in them and once they made the mistakes we just had to be clinical and punish them which we have done.”

Punishing them was vital, after their previous game at Crewe had seen good chances wasted.

“After Tuesday, we knew that creating chances wasn’t the issue,” said the defender. “It was just putting balls in the back of the net.

“Training was about being more aggressive in the final third and sticking the ball in the back of the net.”

Ogie helped ensure MK only got one goal back on Saturday but it was a tense finish, including one late effort that deflected off the defender. Thankfully goalkeeper Jake Turner was able to keep it out.

“With 10 minutes left I just told to boys to keep our heads,” he said.

“Getting the three points was good and to be third in the league but we don’t settle here, we keep going, it motivates us to keep pushing.”

It’s been a good start for Ogie to life at Gillingham, starting all of the games so far this season, partnering either Max Ehmer, Conor Masterson, or both.

“I am loving my time here,” he said. “Everyone has welcomed me here with open arms, it has been a great feeling these last couple of months.

“Playing with Conor, and Max, I am the youngest, I try and learn, they help me as well, talking to me on the pitch. There are times when I am like, ‘oh Shadrach!’, but it has been great to play with both of them.”

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