LEE NOVAK is on a learning curve – and the last three games have provided plenty of lessons.
Delighted when his two goals at Tranmere Rovers took him into double figures in his first season in the senior game, the 21-year-old was frustrated when he was denied another strike and Town had to make do with a point against Leeds United at the Galpharm last Saturday.
Then came midweek misery at Southampton, leaving Novak and his teammates desperate to hit back in today’s crunch clash at Gillingham.
Novak and his frontline partner Jordan Rhodes were both on target when Lee Clark’s team came from behind to beat the Kent side 2-1 at the Galpharm in December.
And the Geordie would love to play his part in another three-point haul to keep Town’s promotion push on track.
“It’s been an eventful few weeks,” reflected the Newcastle-born former Gretna academy player who was signed from Gateshead.
“We got those three straight away wins (at Carlisle United, Hartlepool United, then Tranmere), then got a good point against the second-placed side in the league (Leeds) and could well have had all three.”
Town were trailing 2-1 when Novak was denied by a wonder save from Danish keeper Casper Ankergren in the 75th minute.
“I couldn’t believe he stopped it,” said the striker of the instinctive one-handed save. “All I could do was congratulate him!
“We’d just hit the post and if that or my effort had gone in, I think we could have gone on to win, but at least we got a deserved point through a great finish from Gary Roberts.
“Having gone ahead with another good goal by Anthony Pilkington, we paid the price for a poor 15 minutes in which they scored twice.
“We then faced a test of character, but came through and preserved what is the only unbeaten home record in our division.”
Tuesday’s 5-0 setback at St Mary’s as a big blow, but Novak believes staying down South to prepare for today’s Priestfield Stadium contest has been important.
“Some of the lads might not be that keen on being together 24/7,” he joked. “But I’ve enjoyed it and I think it’s been of benefit in terms of team bonding and working on how to hit back.
“It’s important to keep it all in perspective, because it’s one defeat in 12 league games and we are sixth in the table, so there is everything still to play for.
“It’s about what we do from here on in, and there’s a great determination among the squad to get out of this division.”
Novak’s hoping for a 28th Town start today (he’s made 10 further appearances from the bench) and will be out to add to an 11-goal tally.
He’s been forced to accept that Neal Trotman got the second in the 2-0 win at Hartlepool, and added: “A few of the lads were trying to say my first at Tranmere didn’t go over the line, but it was definitely a goal!
“The team winning is the priority, but as a striker, it’s great for me to be among the goals, and while I have a lot of hard work ahead, I’m pleased at the way things have gone for me so far.
“I don’t think the other players, never mind the supporters, knew who I was when I arrived, and my main aim was to prove myself and show I could play at this level.
“I’ve had some great coaching from the manager and the staff, and the work Steve Black has done with me has really added to my strength and stamina, and I just want to keep improving.”
