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Gillingham manager Steve Evans unhappy with Ipswich Town boss Paul Lambert

Gillingham boss Steve Evans has reacted angrily towards Ipswich boss Paul Lambert.

Evans was incensed at a remark made towards him from his opposite number midway through the opening half of the match at Priestfield.

Gillingham manager Steve Evans
Gillingham manager Steve Evans

Report: Gills 0 Ipswich 1

The Gills boss reported the alleged comment to the fourth official and refused to shake hands with his fellow Glaswegian at the end of Saturday’s match.

Evans, speaking to the press after the game, said: “He said something rather concerning, during the game.

“I spoke very politely to the fourth official and the referee noted it at half-time.

“He tried to put his arm around me and asked that I wouldn’t say anything further to the referee.

"He doesn’t need to come and talk to me (after the final whistle). After what he said during the game in the first half. It was really alarming.

"Lots gets said between benches. Every week, there will have been tussles (between benches) at Lincoln and Oxford, tussles at Doncaster and Peterborough, there are differences of opinion, that is all it is and then it goes away. Not not what happened today.

"But we will let the referee and people that need to know deal with that. They are aware."

Evans wouldn’t elaborate on the comment but said that in almost 1,000 games as manager he hadn't heard it before.

The Gills boss added: “He said something that would concern someone in the street, never mind a professional football manager trying to win a game.

“I will leave it at that and leave the referee to do what he has to do.”

In a match that was feisty on the pitch at times, there were other comments from Lambert that Evans took issue with, including one towards Jack Tucker, who was making his first league start.

Evans claimed that Lambert had insulted the defender and added: “You don’t do that in this game do you? You don’t need to shout at a young man making his debut, ‘you’re rubbish son’ when he kicks one ball out of the park.”

Lambert had little to say in response, during the post-match interviews, but later the club issued a response on their website.

He said: “I have seen Steve Evans’ comments and they are disgraceful and a load of lies.

“The abuse that was coming from their bench was vile.

“I have worked in the Premier League and I’m competitive and gone up against some great managers but I have always shown total respect throughout my career.

“I went to shake hands with Steve Evans at the end of the game and his assistant but they waved me away. That’s up to them but it shows a lack of respect and it’s not how I play the game.

“As for saying I spoke to one of the players the way he has suggested, complete rubbish and lies. I would never talk to a player like that. I went around saying ‘well played’ to their players after the game.

“What’s been said by Steve Evans is a disgrace and what I and my assistant Stuart Taylor had to put up with on the touchline was a disgrace as well.”

Read more: The latest sports news in Kent

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