Gillingham manager Neil Harris thanked the fans who backed them at Barrow - and was gutted he couldn’t send them home with something to cheer.

The Gills went behind early on in Cumbria but levelled late in the second half after improving after the break, to the delighted of the 320 away supporters, only to then let in a second on 94 minutes to lose 2-1.

• Harris: "I can’t have it, I am not prepared to have it, I am not going to have it next year."

Harris made a point of thanking the supporters when speaking to the press before dissecting a disappointing afternoon in the North West.

He said: “To the fans, those nutters who came all that way, a huge thanks from myself, my players and staff and the football club, brilliant, I cannot praise them and thank them enough, I think they’re crazy. It is so much appreciated.”

The Gills have been seeing growing numbers of fans home and away since the takeover from the Galinsons at the end of 2022. Season ticket sales for next term are also going well, up on the same time last year.

Improvements have been made on the field, with plenty of wins at home, but it’s been more of a mixed bag away from Priestfield. The defeat at Barrow leaves the Gills nine points above the League 2 drop zone.

“(They are) mega,” said Harris, on those fans. “Nutters, absolutely crazy. They do it because they love their team and they do it because they are proud of their team at the moment, and I can’t praise them and thank then appreciate them enough.

“I feel for them, second half we arguably deserved a point out of the game, they would have gone home pleased to have been here, I hope they get home safe, just don’t underestimate how important it was when I stepped out of that tunnel and I couldn’t believe what I saw.

“We are moving in the right direction, this was a set back and a disappointment and a lot of food for thought, and some reality with what we are seeing, winning so many games at the moment, I have to digest it all, but the fanbase are enjoying their football again.”