Gillingham manager Neil Harris urged his players to apologise to anyone who paid money to travel and watch a “shambles” in the 2-0 defeat at Grimsby Town.

The Gills suffered a second successive league defeat after first-half goals from Niall Maher and Gavan Holohan put the hosts in full control.

Although his side are still third in the table, Harris was left less than impressed by his side’s performance.

“It was a shambles what the fans had to watch, for them to pay and to travel to come and watch that rubbish,” Harris said.

“Do I apologise on behalf of the group? That’s down to the players to apologise for that. Of course, I’m partly responsible for it.

“We lacked leadership, we lacked aggression, we lacked fight at times in that game and the two goals we gave away were poor.

“League Two is about quality at times, but it is also about fight, desire, attitude and set-plays.

“The goals we conceded are just part of the problem, it was the attitude and desire of the players to compete against a hard-working side.

“Not for me that – the players have been told (in the changing room).”

Harris is expected to ring the changes for the Papa John’s Trophy clash with Leyton Orient at Priestfield on Tuesday night with a number of fringe players expected to be handed starts and a chance to impress ahead of Saturday’s home game with Harrogate in League Two.

Three defeats in a row has taken the gloss off a decent start to the new campaign and some sections of the Gillingham fanbase are already calling for changes with Harris one of those targeted.