Gillingham striker Danny Kedwell admitted the players were down but far from out after Tuesday’s defeat.

The striker (pictured) felt referee Brendan Malone made a mistake with a penalty call which left the Gills out of the Carling Cup at the first round stage against Brighton.

He said: “We are gutted the way we went out, but we came out of it positive and we have to think like that on Saturday and push on.

“We did very well in the game and are obviously disappointed with the way we lost, with a mistake from the referee, but that’s football, it happens.”

The Gills were only the second team to play a competitive match at Brighton’s new Community Stadium and Kedwell relished the experience.

“It made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up when we walked out and I am sure it will be the same for a lot of people when they go to Brighton,” he said.

“It inspires you to move on and to try and get as high as possible and to try and play at these sort of places every week.”

Picture: Barry Goodwin