GILLINGHAM player-manager Andy Hessenthaler blamed the team’s lack of a cutting edge for Saturday's dismal 3-1 FA Cup, fourth round, eclipse at Burnley (Tony Hudd writes).

Two goals in three first-half minutes enabled cash-strapped Burnley to pocket £75,000, with the promise of more to come in the fifth round draw. Gillingham have been left wondering what could have been.

Their Cup dream was left in tatters by the powerful front running of Burnley’s 17-goal top-scorer Robbie Blake and Ian Moore who gave the home side the lead with his 10th goal in 12 FA Cup ties.

The Gills boss said: “Up until Burnley’s first goal, we looked quite comfortable. That goal changed the game and then they scored a couple of minutes afterwards to make it extremely difficult for us.

“The difference between the sides was Blake, Moore and Glen Little who caused us a lot more problems than our boys did to the Burnley defence.

“There are no excuses but it wasn’t easy because we had eight players missing. The thing was that we didn’t have a cutting edge and lacked the kind of pace that Patrick Agyemang gives us.

"What we have to do know is get this out of our system and concentrate on our league form.”