Gillingham boss Steve Lovell bemoaned his side’s woeful first half showing at Plymouth.

The Gills conceded twice in the first 45 minutes and Lovell had to give his players a half-time blast to get them going,

He said: “First half was very poor, from our perspective. They scored two good goals, the first was an excellent finish, but the second one we could have dealt with.

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Match Report: Plymouth 3 Gillingham 1

“We didn’t get near them first half, basically, that is what it was. I thought at times it was very, very poor, as poor most probably a half as we have had.

“We weren’t close to them, we gave them too much time on the ball, there were people not working hard to go and close down, it was disappointing.

“Second half it changed and we had a right good go, but it is too late, we had a mountain to climb.

Freddie Ladapo scored Plymouth’s opening two goals in the opening half.

Lovell said: “He got a free header in the box (for the second goal) but it happened all over the park first half, they passed it around and we didn’t get near them.

“Closing down and getting in people’s faces is something we pride ourselves on but we didn’t do it.

“We didn’t close people down, we didn’t do anything first half, it was so disappointing because in the last three or four games we had been getting back into the swing of things but that first half was the poorest for a while.

“At half time I gave them a bit of a (talking to) which they needed and I said to them it is about a bit of pride. They needed to roll their sleeves up and try and get something out of the game.

“When we got into them second half, closed them down and got amongst them, we looked as if we would create things, but you can’t sit off and let them play. It doesn’t matter what standard of league you are playing in. They have got some very good players, who love having the ball and using it well and that’s what they did in the first half.

"To be fair they (the Gills players) went out and had a right good go second half, we more than matched them and created a few opportunities, but it was too late, we were 2-0 down. I was just disappointed with them.”