Gills goalscorer Macauley Bonne: Charlton Athletic fans’ abuse helped spur me on

Macauley Bonne said that the stick he received from Charlton Athletic fans helped fire him up as he scored in Gillingham’s FA Cup win in Kent.

The ex-Addicks striker put the home team ahead in the 26th minute and cupped his ear to the travelling support.

George Lapslie, another former Charlton player, then slipped Timothee Dieng in to emphatically finish beyond Ashley Maynard-Brewer.

“It was a fast start from us which set the tone in the game,” Bonne told Gillingham’s X account. “The first goal is a bit of a sweet one for me because I was taking some real abuse today.

“Some players go under but it spurs me on – that I’m going to do something to say: ‘You keep abusing me – I’m going to use it’. I used it and it helped my performance in the game.

“It’s just one of those things when you play against your former club. You play and score against your old club, it’s not nice for them. It’s football, it happens and today I’m the one going home with the last laugh.

“Timmy Dieng is just a beast. He’s like a League Two Yaya Toure, ain’t he? When I saw him running through on goal I know he has the technique and he’s going to score there.

“I probably could’ve scored two or three today. There was one at the end where I brought the ball down on my knee and I’m ready to shoot and I get yanked to the floor.”

PICTURE: PAUL EDWARDS