Steve Evans wasn’t happy with referee Lee Swabey’s time-keeping as Gillingham pushed for an equaliser against Sunderland.

His men were all over the visitors late on, after Sunderland had a player sent off with 20 minutes left, following a challenge that also led to a strong reaction from Evans. But his men were only given four minutes of additional time to salvage something from the game as they trailed 2-1.

Evans said: “I went to see the referee at the end and wanted to know why he allocated four minutes at the end. He has warned the goalkeeper three times for time-wasting, we had the (five) substitutes, two goals and a sending off and he adds four minutes.

Listen to the words FA, pathetic decision four minutes. It beggars belief that was the added time.

"I can only assume the referee was in a hurry to get home when he added four minutes at the end when we were smashing at the door."

Sam Allison was the man holding up the additional minutes, as the fourth official. He was in charge back in August when it all kicked off against Shrewsbury, an incident that ended with the Gills being fined and ordered to pay costs.

Sunderland’s Elliot Embleton was the man sent off following a rash challenge on Gills defender Jack Tucker.

“He should get three reds shouldn’t he?” said Evans.

“It was an absolutely horrendous challenge. I don’t know if a red is strong enough, it is horrendous, it is a leg breaking challenge.”

Gillingham scored one penalty, to take a 1-0 lead, but Evans also felt his side should have a second late on when John Akinde went down in the box.

“Even their players said to me ‘it looks like a stonewall penalty,’” commented the Gills boss. "But he didn't give it so it wasn't a penalty."

More on the Gills;

Report: Gills lose on tense day at Priestfield

Reaction: Sunderland were battered!