Lovell calls on players to take responsibility and pull Gillingham out of danger.
A poor performance and defensive errors left Gillingham Manager Steve Lovell hugely disappointed as he spoke to the media after Barnsley romped to a 4-1 victory at the Medway Priestfield Stadium on Saturday.
A goal 17 seconds after the first whistle of the game from Kieffer Moore got the Gills off to the worst possible start. Cauley Woodrow then added a brace before Elliott List pulled a goal back for the hosts, but Jacob Brown smashed in off the bar during stoppage time to compound a miserable afternoon.
Gillingham finished the game with ten men as Gaby Zakuani hobbled off on crutches after a nasty collision with Moore, who was stretchered off the pitch, after Lovell had used all three substitutes.
Moore opened the scoring for the visitors with their very first attack and Lovell was disappointed at the sloppy defending that left the Gills with a mountain to climb against such a quality side.
“They are a good side but to give a goal away in 20 seconds is ridiculous.
“All the planning and work through the week – you can’t legislate for that. We didn’t deal with the first ball that went out wide and 20 seconds later you're 1-0 down against the in-form team in the league.
“You can’t give any teams goals, and it has happened too many times for us this year. Teams don’t defend like that against us and that is why we are where we are.
“We concede a minute before half time again and then the third goals kills us. It was a very disappointing result for us, and the players have got to take responsibility.”
Tomas Holy was named man of the match after a superb display despite the margin of defeat and Lovell admitted his sympathy for the keeper who was busy all afternoon.
“Tomas had a great game, most probably the best game he has had for us which tells you how superior they were in the game today against us.
“All the work that Tomas Holy does for us gives us a chance of winning the game, but when you give them goals then all the saves he made count for nothing.”
Finally, Lovell provided an update on Gills skipper Gabriel Zakuani and Kieffer Moore after their sickening clash in the air led to a lengthy period of treatment for both players.
“Gabs will have an X-Ray on his ankle. We’re not sure what it is but it doesn’t look good at the minute and obviously Kieffer has gone off to hospital – it looked a nasty one, we just hope he’s fine.
“All we can do is hope that the pair of them are not as bad as it really looked.”