Gills boss says late defeat was hard to take after strong performance
Martin Allen said his players were bitterly disappointed not to have got anything out of the game after a late goal saw Coventry inflict a 2-1 defeat on the Gills at Sixfields.
Franck Moussa struck in the 83rd minute to seal all three points for the hosts when it seemed the Gills had done enough to clinch a point after a determined display.
After the game Martin said: “It was hard to take, the players put in a fantastic performance and we had a game plan to set out and frustrate them.
“We conceded a goal in the first minute after giving the ball away but after that there were numerous opportunities for us to score.
“I came here last Sunday to watch them play and they were absolutely fantastic. There was no way that we could leave ourselves open and the areas they were weak we exploited them.
“We added some pace and some athleticism and tactically we changed the way of playing so we wouldn’t get cut open or passed through.
“There was no way that was going to happen because they are a dangerous team who score a lot of goals.
"We restricted them to very few chances and overall I thought it was a good performance and if they keep playing like that we will be alright.”
Martin felt his side should have been in front after a number of chances came and went in the first half, but praised his players for sticking to the game plan.
He said: “We had enough chances in the first half to completely dominate the game but the lads put their bodies on the line and gave everything they have got and to lose so close to the end from a set play, with the players we have in our squad, is disappointing.
“The chances that we had we didn’t turn in to goals and we should have been well ahead at one stage.
“On the counter attack we always knew they would be vulnerable and we had a couple of efforts but we couldn’t afford to leave ourselves open because they have fantastic movement and highly technical players.
“I thought we played really well. We had good pace in our team, good tenacity, good organization and tactically we got it right.
“We had a good chat with the players about it and of course they are all bitterly disappointed not to have got something out of it.”