Gillingham boss Steve Lovell felt his team’s lack of cutting edge was the only reason they didn’t beat Bradford.

Lovell was pleased with the way his team played against the division’s bottom side.

But it needed a Brandon Hanlan goal in the second half to clinch a point for the Gills.

Scroll down to hear from Gillingham manager Steve Lovell.

“We created some really good opportunities first half,” said the manager.

“I thought we played really well. It wasn’t easy going to a place where they know they are down and they have nothing to lose, but apart from their goal, they didn’t really cause us many problems.

“I was disappointed about their goal, a free header in the box, I didn’t particularly like that but apart from that, especially second half, they just had the long ball forward and tried to get their left winger (Sean) Scannell in the game. I thought we dealt with it very well and we really knocked the ball around well.”

• Report: Bradford City 1 Gillingham 1
• Listen to the KM Football Podcast with Jamie Day here
• Sign up to our Gills newsletter here

Lovell said his team were too deep defending the free-kick as Bradford took a 10th minute lead.

He said: “We should never have given away the free-kick anyway, it was stupid, but it was a good ball in and we are too deep inside the six-yard box.

“Max (Ehmer) was trying to get us out but it didn’t happen. To be fair, he (Kelvin Mellor) has headed it in from a good ball in the box."

Gillingham had seven attempts at goal in that opening half but missed every one.

Lovell added: “They just need to be a little more clinical inside the area.

“Sometimes, because you want to do it so badly, you snatch at it. I have been working with the forwards on that.

“On Friday (against Plymouth) when Brandon went through his finish was perfect because he slowed himself down. He is a quick lad but when you get into those situations you need to be in control and slow yourself down.

“Here he got himself in a good position but was still going at 100mph and just pulls it (wide). He is a young lad, he is scoring, he will get goals and he is playing well for us, I am pleased for him.”

It was Hanlan who bundled the ball home for the equaliser after the break.

“It is nice for him to get these different type of goals,” said Lovell.

“He is in the six-yard box, he is challenging for a header, the keeper drops it and he bundles it over the line. Lovely, they all count.

“There are players in football who have made a really good living out of scoring goals like that, it’s not all about 30-yarders, they count the same.”