Gillingham manager Mark Bonner admitted it wasn’t a brilliant night for his team but felt there were reasons for it.

A much-changed team from the weekend were beaten 3-1 by a bright Crystal Palace under-21 outfit that could have won by more on Tuesday night, had it not been for several late saves by Gillingham’s loan keeper Luca Ashby-Hammond.

“I didn't think it was great,” admitted the Gills boss, following their Bristol Street Motors group match defeat.

“It was probably reflective of what can happen when you make loads of changes and you just become a bit of a mix and match in your team between some players getting an opportunity, some players just getting some experience and some players just getting minutes. It was disjointed.”

Jemiah Umolu headed in from a cross and Franco Umeh converted following a corner before the break. Hindolo Mustapha got the better of Gills defender Shad Ogie for 3-0 before Marcus Wyllie headed in for the hosts.

Ashby-Hammond saved Asher Agbinone’s penalty and moments later denied him again from a one-v-one chance and also made a brilliant double save at the death to keep out Zach Marsh.

Bonner said: “We should be offended by the goals we conceded. One from a cross, one from a corner, the third one from a slip but we're too slow on the ball.

“In the first six or seven minutes of the second half we were good and looked a threat and then that penalty kills the game, really.

“Probably the moment that sums the game up for me is the penalty that they get, which was a good save from Luca.

“We made a poor decision to take a quick free-kick, then we get counter-attacked on. We win the ball back, give it back to them, put them in on goal for an opportunity one v one and then they get the penalty.

“I just think the game was littered with mistakes. So many bad decisions. So many errors with the ball. It was just messy, really scruffy.

“At the end, we scored a brilliant goal. I thought the header was a great one and then we have a little bit of a push towards the end.

“We had a nailed-on penalty for us that should have been given in the 88th minute to go 3-2 and then who knows?

“But for too long in the game, we weren't at the level we want to be at, but probably that's just a little bit of a consequence of, in the end, lots of players going out (of the weekend team at Notts County).”

Gills rested Elliott Nevitt, Robbie McKenzie, Max Ehmer, George Lapslie and Glenn Morris. Jack Nolan, Remeao Hutton and Armani Little got half a game.

Bonner continued: “Lucas made a couple of brilliant saves towards the end to keep the scoreline better than it could have been.

“The game could have gone in lots of different ways, lots of different moments.

“I think overall, we just say the exercise for some will be worthwhile somewhere down the line, but it isn't a brilliant night for us, it's a long way from that.

“I don't think it's a game we'll spend any more time after tonight reviewing and talking about.”