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More on KentOnline
Gillingham manager Steve Evans said he had no complaints about Monday’s result at Blackpool.
The Gills suffered a blow to their play-off hopes with a 4-1 defeat to the Seasiders.
“We’ve got no complaints,” Evans said.
“We didn’t produce the type of performance that we have done probably since the middle of January, there are various things I could say, but we were well beaten.
“We stated well but conceded two poor goals, one is a ricochet in the middle of the park and the young striker (Jerry Yates) has got onto it and scored. We missed a couple of chances to equalise, we then get the goal from Jordan Graham (to make it 1-1).”
Six minutes later and the Gills conceded again.
Evans said: “I am not sure it is a free-kick for their second goal but the referee (Darren Drysdale) had a good performance. It was nice to see him back, he deservedly went away after taking his punishment (for a confrontation with an Ipswich Town player) but he came back and performed well.
“We didn’t defend the free-kick right, we have got a nominated marker and got nowhere near him and a striker in form scores. The third goal is well worked, probably their best goal of the game, it is a great finish.
“There was a pivotal moment before half-time, Stuart O’Keefe bursts into the box, a tremendous strike and a brilliant save. It turns 3-1 (at the break) and the conversation is about whether we get the next goal or whether Blackpool get the next goal."
Blackpool controlled the second half and scored the fourth just after the hour mark to seal the points.
“They were better than us,” Evans admitted. “They got the fourth goal and we will take the pain all the way back to Kent, it’s a long journey.
“We lost up here against Fleetwood but that was totally different circumstances, we should have beaten Fleetwood but we deserved to get nothing against Blackpool.”
Gillingham did have numerous chances in the first half - at 3-1 down they were still in it - and Evans was disappointed they didn’t capitalise on those opportunities.
He said: “If we had lost 5-4 it would have probably been a fairer reflection.
“Alex MacDonald had two good chances, John Akinde had a chance, Graham had a chance, Oliver had a chance, all in that first half, but if I tell our supporters we are unlucky in a 4-1 defeat they will think I need a straightjacket.
“We’re very sensible, very calm, we know where we are, we were well beaten by Blackpool, we will take it and move on. They were better than us.
“Blackpool are a good club, a good manager, good staff, honest people, they will have a lot tougher games in the next eight or nine than what they got from us.”
