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Steve Lovell hopes Gillingham will learn after dropping points against Leyton Orient

Steve Lovell Picture: Barry Goodwin
Steve Lovell Picture: Barry Goodwin

Gillingham first team coach Steve Lovell admits it was two points lost on Easter Monday.

Lovell believes the Gills must learn from their mistakes after letting slip a 3-1 lead.

He said: “When you go 3-1 up you expect to win the game but that is where we have to work on, getting things right and not trying to win it four or 5-1.

“It’s hard to get to 3-1, let’s manage the game better and win the three points.

“They scored a second goal with a good finish and it gives them a lift. We all know goals are so important and it can change the way the game goes. It did for them.

“We were good in patches and created a lot of chances and it just shows, with a young group, how we need to manage games when we get into those positions.

“The boys are very young, very willing and played some great stuff. Their goalkeeper made save after save.

“They will learn, they are a great bunch. There were some good players out there but we need to manage games.”

The Gills did have over 20 chances in a match that was played at a fast pace from start to finish.

“We did cause them a lot of problems, there was some good performances and really good goals,” said Lovell.

“They got a goal from a penalty, which I think was a penalty (to go 1-0 up) but it showed the character we have here. They rolled their sleeves up and got themselves into a very good situation.”

Jermaine McGlashan scored to level the game and Cody McDonald netted in each half to make it 3-1.

Two goals in the last 15 minutes for Orient saw the game finish level.

“Sometimes you have to give the opposition credit,” Lovell said.

“They are going to have a go; they are fighting for their lives. They are going to throw everything at us but when we were 3-1 up their goalkeeper has made three or four good saves.

“If you get the fourth goal the game is gone.

“I wouldn’t say we didn’t take our chances, their goalkeeper made some really good saves. I thought Cody and Luke Norris worked tirelessly upfront and created a number of opportunities.”

The Gills were backed by over 1,000 fans on Monday and Lovell appreciated their support.

“They were loud and it was a great game,” he said.

“It wasn’t so nice on the touchline for us. When you are 3-1 up you are happy but the next goal after 3-1 as important.

“Unfortunately they got it and that gave them the impetus. Fair play to them but perhaps we have thrown two points away.

“The support again was fantastic, it always is, it was just a little bit disappointing that we couldn’t send them home with all three points.

“It’s a point but overall I think we deserved all three.”

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