ANDY HESSENTHALER angrily pointed an accusing finger the way of his defence after Gillingham's second defeat in five days last night at Crystal Palace. The dejected Gills boss offered no excuses for the 3-1 setback but was scathing in his condemnation of the team's second half performance after they had hauled themselves back into contention at 1-1 following the worst possible start.

"We went to sleep for all three of their goals, we just didn't concentrate," he said. "I was so disappointed, especially with our second half performance when we didn't pass the ball.

"We didn't come out of the blocks at all well and to be fair we could have been two to three goals down within the first 10 to 15 minutes. But we weathered the storm, got ourselves back in it and didn't want the half time whistle to come.

"At the break we thought we had a chance to get a decent result if we went out, passed the ball and made it hard for them. And for the first 15 minutes we didn't look in any danger. Then we gave away another sloppy goal and created our own problems by giving the ball away cheaply. We didn't pass the ball well - and the lads know that.

"All three Palace goals came from our own play which is hugely disappointing."

Hessenthaler confessed surprise that having got back into the game, the side uncharacteristically let it slip. "That is most unlike us," he added. "I can't put my finger on it because we've not done anything differently over the last two games. We've kept the same shape and the same personnel so nothing has been done differently.

"We know that away from home you have to retain possession and we didn't do that. "

Hessenthaler will be forced into at least two changes for Saturday's match at Preston after the impressive David Perpetuini and Iffy Onuora were forced to come off last night through injury.

Nottingham referee Frazer Stretton cautioned Dougie Freedman for the challenge on Perpetuini which left him with an ankle injury. But then realised he had made a mistake and cautioned substitute Jamie Smith who was the real culprit.

"David's ankle has blown up like a balloon and he has no chance for Saturday," said Hessenthaler. "And it looks as though Iffy has strained knee ligaments."

He confirmed that defender Mark Patterson's name had been circulated to other clubs at his own reqest, though he had not submitted a written transfer request.