Gillingham manager Neil Harris blamed an “individual error” for his side’s 1-0 defeat at Charlton Athletic on Tuesday night.
The Gills knew a point would be enough to lift them out of the Sky Bet League One relegation zone.
But Alex Gilbey scored the winning goal in the 40th minute after Gillingham goalkeeper Pontus Dahlberg failed to deal confidently with Corey Blackett-Taylor’s shot.
Although Jayden Stockley’s follow-up attempt was blocked by the Swede, Gilbey then fired home to earn Charlton their first victory in eight matches.
Harris said: “Ultimately it wasn’t a game we deserved to lose – we deserved at least a point out of it. Charlton had a lot of the ball first half but we were fine with that, we are comfortable without the football as a team at the moment.”
“For 40 minutes we were fine – not any real major issues. It was even-steven in the box and then we give a really poor goal away.”
“It’s an avoidable goal and we can’t afford, in the position we’re in, to give away individual errors.”
Without naming Dahlberg, it’s obvious that Harris was pointing the finger at the keeper and should Aaron Chapman be fit at the weekend, he is expected to reclaim his place in the side.
Meanwhile, Harris saw some positives from his side at The Valley, but bemoaned an injury plagued squad that leaves him with very little options:
“I said at half-time that maybe we need to be a bit more aggressive without the ball and a little more risk-taking, get higher up the pitch. Second half we really stepped on to Charlton and had the better of it.”
“The players have given me everything tonight – it’s all I can ask from the smallest group of players I’ve ever had in my life.”
“My only disappointment was a lack of quality in the final third. We got into some really good areas and just lacked that little bit of creativity. Ultimately we didn’t create enough clear-cut opportunities.”
Harris will now have to pick that small squad up ahead of Saturday’s home clash with Sheffield Wednesday.
Picture supplied by Gillingham Football Club.