Gillingham 1 - 2 Southend

GILLINGHAM’S latest captain Michael Flynn insisted the players were to blame after suffering defeat on home soil to Southend.

Individual errors cost Gillingham any hope of taking anything from the joint League 1 leaders, with this latest loss seeing Neale Cooper’s injury-ravaged side slip into the bottom three.

Flynn was delighted at taking the captain’s arm-band – stepping in after injuries to Chris Hope and Darren Byfield – but frustrated after seeing his side turn in a poor second-half performance.

The 24-year-old said: "I’m very proud to be captain of Gillingham FC, but there’s a sour taste in my mouth as we haven’t won or got anything out of the game.

"In the second half there seemed to be a lacklustre pattern straight after half-time where we weren’t at the races.

"As players we’ve got to take the blame for this. The manager picks the team but we were the better side in the first half.

"So he’s making the right decisions in picking the team but it’s us as individuals and as a team, we have to cut out our sloppy mistakes."

Flynn admitted there were several words exchanged after the match in the changing room but was quick to point out the team’s collective responsibility.

He added: "The manager and Ronnie Jepson have put in their everything and they’re so deflated.

"We’ve got to be ruthless and we’ve got to be stronger, nastier. This is our ground and we should be putting fear in teams coming here."