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Gillingham manager Steve Evans will make changes for EFL Cup match against Newport County

Gillingham manager Steve Evans will be keen to see what others can do after a day to forget.

The Gills lost 2-1 to Burton Albion at Priestfield on Saturday in a performance that Evans described a poor from start to finish.

Newport County head to Priestfield tomorrow (Tuesday) night in the first round of the EFL Cup.

Gillingham's Elliott List looks to see off Burton's Ryan Edwards Picture: Ady Kerry
Gillingham's Elliott List looks to see off Burton's Ryan Edwards Picture: Ady Kerry

“We will change it around for Tuesday,” said the Gillingham manager.

“That eleven won’t start. There can’t be wholesale changes because we haven’t got the squad, we’ve 17 or 18 first team players. We’re still trying to get one or two players in.

“The performance (on Saturday) surprised me, it surprises you when you watch two or three just not putting in the yards.

“First and foremost you need to have 11 people working as hard as they can to win a football match but two or three looks like they weren’t trying.”

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While Evans is still working hard to bring the players in he wants, he won’t be rushed into any panic signings because of one bad performance.

He said: “We’re not going to go out and sign players that weren’t going to be right yesterday. We have to get the right players in.

“There were a lot of good players out there (on Saturday) and nine of them in both halves gave everything but if two or three have come here thinking they can just play when they want to play, when they get the ball and not help people on the pitch, then they have joined the wrong manager.

Mark Byrne shows his frustration on Saturday as Gillingham lose to Burton Picture: Ady Kerry (15068613)
Mark Byrne shows his frustration on Saturday as Gillingham lose to Burton Picture: Ady Kerry (15068613)

“They are aware of that now, they know about it, they should have known about it before the game but we’re not going to be condemning them, we’re going to go out on the training ground, work hard and try and make progress against a good Newport side.”

County are managed by former Gills player Michael Flynn, a popular figure who was regular on the scoresheet from midfield.

The Welsh side, who lost in the League 2 final last season, have drawn their opening two matches of the new campaign.

Gillingham are unlikely to risk midfielder Matty Willock, who continues to recover from a hamstring injury, while Ouss Cisse picked up a knock in the weekend defeat against Burton Albion.

Evans added: “We just need to settle down. The cup comes at a good time for us and we can get some bodies onto the pitch that we’ve wanted to get on and we can have a look at them.”

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