COACH Wayne Jones dismissed Gillingham's performance as "rubbish" after Burnley inflicted a third defeat of the season on the Kent club at Turf Moor on Saturday.

The former Wales international midfielder delivered a scathing assessment after a 1-0 defeat left the club precariously placed, seven points above the nearest relegation place.

It was Gillingham's 13th league defeat of the season three less than last term's entire tally and served to underline the importance of the previous week's 1-0 win over relegation certainties Bradford City.

Jones, who stood in for player-manager Andy Hessenthaler at Saturday's after-match press conference, was in no mood to pull his punches.

He said: "We didn't play as well as when we lost up here two weeks ago in the FA Cup. On the ball we were rubbish.

"Defensively, we looked comfortable until Burnley scored a goal that left us all wondering just how it came about. With seven or eight minutes to go, conceding a goal like that is disappointing and that's an understatement.

"We've come here and forced their goalkeeper into one terrific save in 90 minutes. That's not good enough.

"That is something we've got to put right or we're not going to win matches."

He rejected the theory that Gillingham had played for a draw and that their game plan was left in tatters by Glen Little's 83rd minute winner.

"With the benefit of hindsight we would have loved to be going back on the coach with a point. But we didn't play well enough, even though we were the better side in the first half.

"However, we cannot escape the fact that we gave away a terrible goal. For the manner in which we conceded that goal, we deserved to be punished.

"I thought Jason would come and collect the ball or one of our defenders would clear. Then, all of a sudden, Little's on it.

"We're all more disappointed today than when we lost 3-1 here two weeks ago. We're a good passing side but we didn't pass it well."

He admitted that the players were looking forward to the two-week break brought about by Sunderland, next Saturday's scheduled opponents, being involved in an FA Cup, fifth round tie at home to Birmingham.