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Gillingham boss Steve Lovell doesn't see need to chop and change after Plymouth defeat

Gillingham manager Steve Lovell was looking beyond last weekend’s scoreline.

His side were beaten 2-1 by Plymouth, a win that took the Devonshire side off the bottom of the table, but Lovell left Home Park with plenty of positives too.

Lovell said: “The second half was most probably one of the best we have played, this year.

Gills boss Steve Lovell Picture: Gary Browne
Gills boss Steve Lovell Picture: Gary Browne

“Their keeper made three or four good saves and we had good opportunities.

“After the game our players were so disappointed and I was disappointed for them. Even if we had come off and it was 1-1 we would have been feeling the same.

“Just because they get a goal at the end you can’t turn everything around and say, ‘how are we going to change this?’, ‘we need to change that’. People look into it too deeply.

“If you look at the performance levels, the amount of chances we had, the amount of corners and opportunities to make them struggle defensively, which we did, the way we played and passed and got forward and our fitness levels, those were all positives.

“The way they got their second goal was unbelievable, he couldn’t do that again if he tried, the way the ball went in the air and landed perfectly. His first shot wasn’t going anywhere, Ben Nugent couldn’t see it, Max Ehmer didn’t know where it had gone, and before you know it it’s in the back of the net.

“That’s the way it’s going but we shouldn’t have even been in that position, to worry about that last kick. We have to focus on the positives, take it into Saturday and if we play that well again we will win the game.”

Weekend visitors Bristol Rovers have won their last two and sit 15th in the table, just seven points above the Gills.

“They are a very good, well-organised side,” added Lovell. “They will be good going forward, like most teams in this league.

“A game of football is all about counter-attacking and we had a plan against Plymouth because we knew that when they went forward they would leave themselves open at the back. Second half it proved it, until they put bodies behind the ball, when they realised they weren’t going to out-do us going forward.

“We will play our normal way and attack them, take the game to them. They will come and have their tactics to try and stop us. It is about spotting what is going on to adjust it – from a tactical point of view and a technical one.

“It will be down to us, we will take the game to them and hopefully get the breaks that I think we deserve.”

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