Manager Justin Edinburgh reflects on the Gills' 2-1 defeat at Burton Albion
Manager Justin Edinburgh urged his players to go and win next Sunday's “cup game” against Millwall as they remained in the play-off hunt despite losing against Burton Albion.
Tom Naylor's 92nd-minute winner earned the Brewers a 2-1 victory over the Gills at the Pirelli Stadium, which looked like ending the club's promotion bid.
But a late Colchester United goal at Barnsley means a victory over Millwall at the MEMS Priestfield Stadium on Sunday could return the Gills back to the top six at the death.
“It's a cup game now, one game left,” said Edinburgh. “The season goes to the last game, and I suppose Barnsley and Scunthorpe can't play for draws [next Sunday against Wigan and Sheffield United respectively].
“We'll keep going while there's an opportunity - there's big things on the line, we've got a chance to get in the play-offs, something that the players, manager and fans may not get to experience for years to come.”
However, Edinburgh fumed at the way his side fell to a late defeat against Albion, which all-but confirms their promotion to the Championship.
He said: “We've lost another football match; I'm angry with how we've conceded in stoppage time. I can't accept that.
“We started slowly, but we weathered the storm, regrouped and were worthy of an equaliser. In all, from our performance, I felt we deserved something out of the game.
“But we can't allow a free header in the box with three minutes to go when our livelihoods are at stake. It's unacceptable.”
The Gills manager added that injuries to Bradley Garmston and Aaron Morris, which forced the pair within 120 first-half-seconds of each other, were a hamstring and knee respectively.