Gills head coach Ady Pennock was sticking up for his players after Tuesday’s one-sided affair.

His team were outplayed by promotion-chasing Bolton and comfortably beaten at Priestfield, losing 4-0.

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Report: Gillingham 0 Bolton Wanderers 4

Pennock said: “It’s hard to take but they were better than us, all over the pitch, they were very good.

“They are a big and strong team and I knew set-play were always going to be a problem for us. It showed going in 3-0 at half-time.

“It wasn’t great, but I am not going to have a go at the players. My players have been fantastic for me.”

All three first half goals were headed efforts from crosses, two of them off corner kicks.

“It has always been a problem,” said Pennock.

“There is no point saying we were fantastic and everything else because we conceded some very poor goals.

“They had seven or eight six foot plus players and we haven’t.

"Their delivery was very good and it was one of those games where you have to put your hand up and say they were much better than us all over the pitch. We just have to move on."