Peter Taylor wasn’t looking for excuses to defend his team’s performance on Saturday.

Several decisions went against the Gills at Priestfield but boss Taylor wasn’t about to blame the referee for his side’s failings.

He said: “If we had been outstanding and those things happen, then I would be feeling sorry for the players.

“I don’t think that performance deserved any luck. I don’t want to go on about a referee making bad decisions because that would take away our poor performance.”

“The reason we lost is because of our performance wasn’t good enough."

Referee Stephen Bratt was called upon several times but none of the big decisions went for Gills’ way.

The Gills felt there was a handball in the move that led to Crewe’s opening goal.

A goal was ruled out in the first half at the other end as Adebayo Akinfenwa was adjudged to have fouled the visiting keeper. In the same half it appeared the Crewe keeper Ben Garratt had handled outside the box.

In the second half there were claims for a penalty for handball in the box but those protests were waved away as well.

“I don’t want to highlight those as the reason why we lost the game,” insisted Taylor. “The reason we lost is because of our performance wasn’t good enough.

“Yes, we could have had a few more things go our way but I am not convinced we could have gone on and won the match, with the way we have played over 90 minutes. I am not one to dig out a referee.”

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