Gillingham 0 - 1 Oldham Athletic

NEALE Cooper admitted he was unable to criticise his team despite watching them crash to their third consecutive defeat.

The Gills battered Oldham for the whole of the second half on Saturday but failed to find an equaliser after conceding an early goal.

Manager Cooper remained positive despite a defeat that saw Gillingham drop to 20th in the League 1 table; without a goal in more than 300 minutes of football.

Cooper said: "As effort goes those players were fantastic. Nobody got into trouble from me. I just thanked them for their effort and how they worked as a team and still kept going.

"I tried to pick the players up as much as I could but I just can't believe we didn't win this game - but that's football and sometimes it goes that way.

"They're a good bunch of boys and we've got to get on with it."

Gillingham bossed the game, especially the second half, after Chris Killen had given the visitors a sixth minute lead, but failed to convert a host of chances.

Cooper added: "With the amount of chances we created we could have won many a game. It's hard at the moment. Things aren't quite happening for us and I think we need a bit of luck."

* FOR ALL THE REACTION AND PICTURES FROM GILLINGHAM'S LATEST DEFEAT SEE MONDAY'S MEDWAY MESSENGER.

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