Gaffer disappointed with defeat against high-flying Luton.
Gillingham Manager Steve Lovell conceded that Luton’s clinical edge in front of goal was the difference between the two teams at The Medway Priestfield Stadium as the Hatters took all three points following a 3-1 win.
An Elliott Lee brace in the second half put the game beyond doubt after a superb opener from Andrew Shinnie saw Luton take the lead at half-time. Tom Eaves fired home from inside the box to get the Gills back in the game, but Luton defended resolutely to see out time and claim the points.
Lovell was pleased with his side’s performance but called on the Gills team to start taking their chances in order to begin climbing the league table again.
“I thought it was a performance that deserved to get something out of the game over the 90 minutes. The crucial things are goals.
“Apart from their three goals, I can’t remember Tomas Holy having to make a save all game. For most of the game we matched them and there wasn’t a lot in it.
“As a coach and a manager you have to take positives out of it, because if you don’t nobody else will. They kept going right until the end, but it wasn’t to be.
“They couldn’t get out. Their bench were shouting at them all second-half but they couldn’t get out because of the pressure we were putting them under. We had a lot of ball in wide areas and in the box but nothing came of it.
“It’s a big game on Tuesday down at Bristol Rovers and we have an important week coming up.”
Game changing moments continue to go against Lovell’s team and again he was left frustrated pointing out Luton’s third goal and a penalty he felt Elliott List should have been awarded.
“The fella was nowhere near the ball, he never kicked it. It was either a goal-kick or a penalty but you don’t get them.
“The third goal he’s run the whole length of the pitch. On the halfway line you give a foul away – you pull a shirt or kick him into the stand, but if we score that goal we say what a great goal.
“It’s frustrating, we’ve got to start putting our half chances away again.”
Tom Eaves notched his 12th league goal of the season but Lovell wants more players to start contributing to the Gills’ tally.
“Tom Eaves is scoring goals and it was a really good finish, but they have players all over the team that are scoring goals.
“It’s something that we know we need and we always have done. We can’t just rely on one person to get goals. They’re young lads learning their trade and to go out and get goal scorers is hard.
“Listy has been on form, and I thought he had a decent game today. He never really got any opportunities today, they always fell to somebody else. He’s a young lad thought and he’ll come good.”