Gillingham had two players booked after team-mates clashed near the end of a frustrating night at Barrow.

Defenders Remeao Hutton and Conor Masterson got in a row that led to a brief skirmish and a yellow card for them both - on a night that won’t live long in the memory for the Gills.

More: Head coach questions his own decision

Head coach Stephen Clemence insists he has “nipped it in the bud” after addressing the incident post-match and blamed the row on emotions running high.

Following the 2-0 loss, he said: “Football is an emotional game and you have to keep your emotions in check.

“I don’t like to see it but I’ve nipped it in the bud and I know they have shaken hands and they are fine.

“They both just want to win, sometimes in the heat of the moment your emotions can get the better of you, but they are fine now.”

Prior to that the Gills had been on the end of some heavy challenges - the worst coming after just four minutes when Cole Stockton smashed into Jonny Williams. A yellow card was produced but many felt it was worthy of a red.

Clemence hadn’t seen a reply of the tackle when questioned and didn’t want to make a big deal of the challenge but said: “It didn’t look great from where I was standing.

“The boys weren’t happy with it, the referee was quite close to the incident and it was a big man, little man challenge. Jonny didn’t come out of it too good but Jonny doesn’t throw himself around and I know he hurt himself in the tackle but was it a red? I don’t know.

“Even if I thought it was a red and I said that what am I going to get out of it?’ We got beat and we have to move on.”