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Gillingham boss Martin Allen is critical of his players after losing to Bradford City at Priestfield

Martin Allen sees his side concede from a corner
Martin Allen sees his side concede from a corner

Gills boss Martin Allen launched a stinging attack on his team following Saturday’s defeat.

Allen has up until now steadfastly defended his squad.

That wasn’t the case after a 1-0 home defeat to Bradford sent his team to the foot of League 1 and extended their winless run to 10 games.

“I wasn’t happy,” said Allen, after the loss. “It was a disappointing performance.

“We had a good week in training, the players had been really bright and I made two changes to what was an excellent performance away against Coventry and you have to say I got it wrong. I picked the wrong team.

“We were very poor in the first half, with the attitude and the concentration. It was a disappointing start. I have sat here from day one and backed the players and always given them my full support but there were far too many players well below par. The attitude I don’t think was right.

“I would never criticise individually but you will see, hopefully, over the next few weeks some changes. I need to make some changes, there is no doubt about that. We need clarity and the paying public deserve better than that.”

There were refereeing decisions that could have helped Gillingham’s cause.

The Gills felt there was an off-side in the build-up to the Bradford goal and that Cody McDonald was on-side when he got clear, with an empty net infront of him.

But Allen wasn’t interested in making excuses.

“I’m not going into all that,” he said.

“Cody McDonald wasn’t off side but I’m not going down that road.

“We have to concentrate on what we do and look at what we do. I am not going to talk about refereeing decisions. You take it on the chin and deal with it.

“If we defend the corner properly it (Bradford’s goal) wouldn’t have happened. We didn’t defend it properly. You have to attack the ball at the near post, it can’t be allowed to fizz along there like that.”

It wasn’t just Gills’ performance on the pitch that made him angry.

“We haven’t adjusted (to League 1) and we haven’t won enough games,” he said. “That’s it and I have to do something about it.

“I have tried different permutations and different ways of playing. We got caught out with the formation we played last year that got us to the championship and so we have had to adapt and change that.

“I am not just talking about on the pitch, I am also talking about things that happen off the football pitch, making sure everyone has lunch after training, things like that. We can deal with those things quite quickly and quite easily.

“It’s dissent to the referees, dissent on and off the pitch and it’s not good enough. You don’t win a gold medal and become champions through dissent and poor conduct. It’s not good enough.”

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