Andy Hessenthaler admitted his side weren’t good enough during the 2-1 defeat against Dagenham on Monday.

The Gills were facing a team fighting to avoid relegation and playing a direct style of football and it was a challenge they couldn’t handle admits the Gills manager.

Hessenthaler (pictured) said: “We weren’t good enough and we have to give credit to Dagenham and their manager John Still. They came and did a job on us and we didn’t get going.

“We tried to get going, football-wise. We had them watched last week and we know they tend to play one up front away from home. They did it at Port Vale and got a result and they did the same to us.

“They frustrated us and made it difficult. We got done twice on the counter-attack. First half we gave the ball away and in the second half it was the same thing.

“They stopped us from trying to play and conditions were quite difficult out there, with the wind.”

The Gills did make it 1-1, through Rowan Vine’s impressive strike just before the hour, but an even better solo goal from Dominic Green won it for the visitors.

“After scoring a very good goal you thought we would then relax and go and win the game but we shot ourselves in the foot.”

Hessenthaler was frustrated that Green was allowed through on goal to hit what turned out to be the winner.

“I know what I would have done had I been out there,” he said. “I would have taken the yellow card and that’s because I am experienced. Their fella ran from right to left, came inside and opened the goal up. There were poor decisions by a couple of players and we got punished for it. It was then difficult because they sat in deeper and deeper and did a job.

“They deserved to win. I am pleased that they are now safe from relegation but it’s dented our chances of getting into the play-offs and we now are making it really difficult.”

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