Gillingham’s performance against Peterborough pleased manager Steve Lovell even if the scoreline didn’t.

His Gills side gave the high-flying visitors a run for their money but came out second best in the end, losing 4-2, as United returned to the top of League 1.

Lovell said: “I thought it was an excellent performance.

Report: Gillingham 2 Peterborough United 4

"We created chances and scored goals. I couldn't have asked for more, they were magnificent.

“I thought we put in a good performance and I'm just disappointed to come away 4-2 losers.”

The Gills were a goal down at the break, unable to take advantage of their opportunities going forward.

Lovell said: “Tomas Holy made a couple of really good saves, to keep us in the game, but then we had a spell where we took hold of it, got the ball down and passed it around in areas that hurt Peterborough.

“We created a number of opportunities which we didn’t take, (it was the) same old story, early doors.

“Going in 1-0 down at half-time, we knew that the next goal would be the important one.”

The Gills levelled through Callum Reilly and moments later Mark Byrne made it 2-1 but the lead lasted just six minutes.

“It was disappointing that after going 2-1 up we didn’t keep it at 2-1 for a little while longer,” said the manager.

“Talking to Steve Evans (the Peterborough manager) at the end of the game, he said, ‘I thought you had us’ and fair play to him for saying that. You could see he was relieved when they got their second goal, that gave them the little kick start they needed.

“The last two goals we have had possession in good areas up their end of the pitch and it ends up in the back of our net, albeit the third goal from Toney was a tremendous finish, that is why he is cost so much finish, it was a quality finish, a great goal.

“A couple of individuals that they had were the difference, I thought they were a decent side. For most of the game we dealt with it, it was just the goals were quality.”

More reaction in Monday's Medway Messenger newspaper.