Gillingham’s new skipper Doug Loft was keen to move on following Saturday’s defeat.

He’s eyeing better times ahead this season following a 4-2 opening day loss at MK Dons.

“We have to be better and everyone knows that,” said the 27-year-old. “I am confident for the season, we have a good squad and we will do well, we just need to learn from our mistakes.

“You have to go again, work on what we’ve done wrong, take the positives out of it and kick on.

“It is no point being too doom and gloom after the first game of the season. I have done a lot of seasons in the past and I know how they go.

“I am confident and I know we’ve got a good squad.”

The Gills were winning Saturday’s game 2-1 before striker Cody McDonald went off injured and Loft admitted that had an affect.

“If affected us when he went off injured because he was playing brilliantly for us,” said Loft.

“He was a threat to them. I am sure he will be fine, he is a good lad and a good player and hopefully he will be back soon.”

Looking back at the goals conceded, the captain spoke of his disappointment.

“I thought Cody was brilliant and had we kept it 2-0 until half-time then we would have been in with a great shout of winning the game,” he said.

“We pressed them for the first two goals and then we sat off them and maybe were a bit naive.

“I was trying to get the boys forward but we sat off them and conceded before half-time and that was a bit of a killer. Nelson went off injured and I felt we were on the back foot (in the) second half.

“The first goal was disappointing and what was disappointing was that all of their goals came from crosses.

“We’re devastated afterwards because having been 2-0 up and having the better of the game, to concede from four crosses you can’t really make any excuses for that. We need to be stronger, stand up and perform better in certain situations to win games.”