Gillingham boss Steve Evans couldn’t believe he was leaving Portman Road empty handed.

The Gills were beaten by a late goal, scored by Teddy Bishop, but Evans described how they battered a side hotly tipped for promotion this season.

Town boss Paul Lambert had to watch the game from home, as he was self-isolating after fearing he had picked up Covid-19. One of their coaching staff has tested positive for the virus.

“Privately they knew they had a battering,” said Evans.

“But we will listen to the Lambert boy saying they were brilliant again. He said it on Saturday (after losing to Lincoln 1-0) but I know a lot of Ipswich fans. I watched it as well. They were very poor. They weren’t so good tonight (Tuesday).

“I tell you what, he will have been having a beer (afterwards). He might not say it but he will know.

“The best team lost, by some distance. Second half it was one-way traffic. They were playing on counter attacks. They got a bit of help with some of the decisions. I am not questioning the integrity of the referee but it was a poor performance from him, it’s as bad as it gets.

“First half was a disciplined performance, we had a good organisation, good shape, one thing they have got is a huge budget and for that they get good players. They made one good chance that the boy (Jack Lankester) should probably score.

“We had to change the goalkeeper (after Jack Bonham got injured) and different things and we got to half time and we said, 'with more belief, let’s go and take them on, they are under pressure to get promoted.' Second half one team played all the football and made all the chances, one team deserved to win, one team got all of the decisions, but we have to just go again.”

It’s four defeats in a row for Evans’ side but he’s at least been encouraged by improved performances in each of those games.

Evans said: “The vultures will be about won’t they? We have lost four games, but we were outstanding second half against Ipswich, probably the best Gillingham performance in a long time, including some big wins last season.

“Our open play, our general play, passing and moving, we got to the byline on 15-20 occasions, Jordan Graham was on fire, we were putting balls in, they were clearing it off the line and if there is a criticism it is that we are not taking our chances.

“When you play against clubs like Ipswich, with 20 times our budget, with the resources that allows them to bring better players in, you have to take chances when they come.

“We have been glaringly missing chances against Pompey, glaring against Fleetwood and even more so on Tueday. In football they say if you are making chances, then you are on some sort of track that is heading in the right direction.”

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