Justin Edinburgh felt Tuesday night’s trip to Birmingham might have been a game too far for his side.

A hectic start to the season has seen the Gills take in trips to Plymouth and Bradford in recent weeks. On Saturday they beat Wigan in scorching temperatures.

Edinburgh made four changes on Tuesday night to freshen up the team but they were undone by two clinical finishes from striker Wes Thomas.

Edinburgh said: “It’s disappointing to lose, certainly the manner of the two goals we conceded from two set-pieces.

“We probably weren’t at our best in terms of possession but after a good start we lost our way a bit.

“In terms of players’ application I am not going to fault that. There are no excuses but we have had a lot of travelling and that might have been a game too far.”

Gillingham stated brightly enough, forcing Birmingham keeper Adam Legzdins into an early save from Ben Williamson.

Edinburgh said: “I thought we started the game well and were dominant in the early parts but their first goal changed the game and we were chasing from there on in.

“I can’t fault the application of the players, they have been fantastic and they went right to the end tonight.

“Thomas won’t get easier goals than that. They were poor on our part and we can certainly do better.

“I don’t think there was anything in the game from box to box. Wes Thomas has got onto the end of two little knock-downs and we had a little bit of god play in and around the box in the first 15-20 minutes but it just didn’t roll for us.

“We had a couple of times when it bounced off their goalkeeper and we just didn’t get the bounce of the ball.

“I don’t think there was anything in it in terms of general play. We came and acquitted ourselves well.

“Early second half at 1-0 down Ben Williamson got through and drove one chance across the goal.”

Edinburgh’s four changes saw him drop Bradley Dack, Brennan Dickenson, John Egan and Luke Norris to the bench.

“We have got a good squad and everyone we have brought in is there for a reason,” said the manager.

“They are good enough to be at the club and good enough to get a game. There were one or two who needed game time as well.”