Gillingham boss Steve Evans will keep his thoughts on referee Kevin Johnson's display in match against AFC Wimbledon to himself

By: Luke Cawdell lcawdell@thekmgroup.co.uk

Published: 08:12, 25 November 2019

Updated: 08:17, 25 November 2019

Gillingham manager Steve Evans wasn’t willing to waste his money on criticising referee Kevin Johnson.

Evans was clearly annoyed by some of the decisions made by the official at AFC Wimbledon on Saturday, which included two worthy penalty shouts that were waved away and a late dismissal for substitute Ben Pringle.

An angry Steve Evans walks from the pitch at the final whistle on Saturday Picture: Ady Kerry

The Football Association aren’t keen on their officials being criticised in public by managers and Evans has been on the wrong end of their punishment before.

On this occasion he was keeping his opinions to himself.

He said: “I am not going to talk about the referee publicly. I will talk to him privately.

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“I have got to remain private about my thoughts of Kevin Johnson’s performances because if I say them publicly I will be in trouble.

“I know what I think but I can’t say it and I don’t want to get into trouble.

Tom O'Oonnor appeals in vain to referee Kevin Johnson Picture: Ady Kerry

“I have given that lot (the FA) too much of my money and I would rather spend it on a trip to my homeland.”

Evans watched on as his team ended the game with 10 men following Pringle’s dismissal in stoppage time for dissent.

The Gills midfielder was upset that AFC Wimbledon had been awarded a goal kick when a goalmouth scamble went out of play. He felt it should have been a corner.

Reacting to that decision, Evans commented: “He said, ‘it’s a ******* corner’ three times.

“If Kevin has sent him off for repeatedly saying it, then that is a decision for him, but I would suggest if he has sent him off for that he will be sending players off every game.

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“Kevin is an honest guy but he’s had a shocker.”

The Gills were well backed at Kingsmeadow and Evans said: “Our supporters had a lot of chants. I think those chants would have been accurate. I am not sure if I heard them right.

“They have seen their team been totally dominant and got beat. To a man they clapped their team off.

“They went back to Medway up the M25 thinking ‘how have we lost that game?’ I know I did.”

Referee Kevin Johnson Picture: Ady Kerry