Gills boss Ady Pennock admitted his team looked “lost” during the opening 45 minutes at Rochdale.

In a poor first half showing, Pennock’s team conceded twice and had a player sent off, laying the foundations for another defeat.

The defeat came just a week after beating Charlton 1-0 at home – their only win from their first nine in League 1.

Pennock said: “The 11 players we had out there looked lost in the first half, totally different to what is was like last Saturday.

“To give them a bit of credit, they did better second half, but the sending off was not good and you’re climbing a mountain after that.”

Report: Rochdale 3 Gillingham 0

Gillingham had a great early chance, with Billy Bingham clean through, but he missed the target.

“It could have changed the game,” said Pennock, who then had to watch as his side gave away two soft goals.

He continued: “We shoot ourselves in the foot, it’s our own fault. First half was not very good at all.

“The first goal was poor. Their lad Bunney ran all the way through and everyone was just tickling him. Chop the lad down, do you know what I mean? Let him nowhere near the goal.

“You have to manage the game. He ran all the way through.

“The second one was a poor goal. (Tomas Holy) could have punched, but I am not going to have a go at Tomas, he has done very well.

“I have said before he will make mistakes, he is a young lad still learning his trade and he has done very well for us. I am not going to have a go at Tomas.”

Pennock reinstated after the game that he wouldn’t quit, saying: “I have (already) said enough (about me). We had a good result against Wimbledon and Charlton, we have to bounce back and get a good result against Scunthorpe now (on Tuesday).”