Gaffer reacts following Fleetwood draw.
Gillingham Manager Steve Lovell was pleased with his side's performance against Fleetwood on Saturday but was left frustrated as a 90th minute equaliser ensured the spoils were shared in Lancashire.
Tom Eaves had given the Gills the lead in the 83rd minute when he climbed highest at the back post to head the visitors in front, but a superb free-kick from James Husband meant it finished all square on a treacherous afternoon in Fleetwood.
Reflecting on the game, Lovell said: “At 0-0 I would have most probably taken a point. It was a horrible game with horrible conditions, but we tried to play football and we did. We were delighted when we took the lead but for them to get an equaliser in injury time is sickening really. However, it’s another game where we’ve picked up a point."
Lovell added: “There haven’t been many games that I’ve been involved in with that much wind – they had the pressure second half, but they never caused us too many problems. I don’t think it was a free-kick (for the goal) but the referee gave it. I was right behind it, the ball started out so far wide and it bent in.”
The weather on the Fylde coast deteriorated throughout the game but Lovell was pleased that the poor conditions didn’t deter his side from flowing football. He added:
"We are on a decent run, the boys are performing well, and we are playing well. Even today, in those conditions, I thought we passed it really well. Fleetwood are well organised, very strong and committed side. I’m just disappointed the weather was like that because I felt we could have done better, but we tried to get the ball down to play a lot of football.”
The Gills boss continued: “In a game like that you’re not going to have too many opportunities so when you get a chance you’ve got to take them. In the last few games we’ve put in some good performances. Three points would have been lovely, but it wasn’t to be.”
The point at Fleetwood ended a run of three consecutive away games with four points in the bag. Gills now face a crucial week as they host Oxford and Bristol Rovers at Priestfield, and Lovell knows the importance of building on a positive couple of weeks.
He said: “Those two points would have been lovely, but we could win next week and move up to thirteenth. Had someone said we will take seven points from four games we would have taken it. It’s a crucial couple of weeks coming up.”