Gillingham First Team Coach reflects on today's 0-0 draw against Swindon Town
Gills First Team Coach Steve Lovell admits today's 0-0 draw against Swindon Town felt like a defeat given the side's good performance.
Rory Donnelly hit the post within five minutes, and Town goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux made a fine save to deny Josh Wright, as the Gills were unable to seal a double over the Wiltshire club for the first time in 34 years at a blistery MEMS Priestfield Stadium.
“It's disappointing, in the dressing room after it felt as if we lost the game, especially having had so much possession, so much of the game, which we didn't turn it into three points,” said Lovell.
“First half we started very well, created a number of good opportunities and Rory hit the post having done everything right. He says the wind took it, of course he's a centre forward and they like to make excuses, but he's a honest player!
“I thought it was a matter of time before we'd get another good opportunity but it just didn't happen for us today.
“You can say perhaps in the final third we didn't have the cutting edge. We haven't scored all these goals this season because of a lack of quality. Some days you have games where it doesn't go for you.
“We played Blackpool last week and didn't look like scoring, today we had a number of opportunities but it didn't happen for us. That's football.”
The Gills also believed they should have had a penalty after a neat move involving Bradley Dack and Ryan Jackson ended with the latter being bundled over in the box.
Lovell added: “I thought it was a definite penalty, but we all do. Jacko says it was, and again he's an honest lad. I think recently we've had a few decisions go against us but we've got to get on with it.
“Had we have got it, it would have changed the game. Credit to the boys, they kept going, whereas with other teams it might have affected them.”