Gillingham boss Steve Lovell has spelled out at his weekly press briefing his defensive frustrations as the Gills prepare for the SKYBet League One visit to Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday.

The Gills boss explained to those present how the coaching team are trying to cut back on some of the goals the side have been conceding… especially recently.

“All we can do is to keep highlighting it in training and keep showing them and hopefully they’ll get it – watching the videos as to what they’re doing and not doing to defend set plays in the box, as after all it is only one v one in the box.”

“They’re given a job and they know who they’re marking so we make sure that it is one against one and that is your responsibility to deal with that and if you don’t, that’s what’s going to happen.”

“We don’t tend to get them ourselves – we don’t get any free headers or free shots in the box from set plays, so there’s no reason why other teams should and that’s been a big, big disappointment for us this season.”

“Cut that out and the rest of it has been quite decent – not many teams have created their own chances against us and we have given away too many goals and between now and the end of the season, we’ve got to stop it, and if we stop that, we’ve a chance of winning most games because we know that going forward we are a very good side…”

Lovell was in a reflective mood after Tuesday’s defeat to Sunderland. “We silenced there crowd for long periods of the game on Tuesday,” he admitted, “and in truth could have got something out of the game before they got their two penalties late in the contest – from 45 minutes to around sixty six we were on top and they were panicking a little bit and had opportunities to score and go 3-2 in front.”

“From a personal view after that we’re very confident going into the Wycombe game at the weekend and after the way we played in the last two games and I’m sure we’ll get something out of it.”

He was then asked if his side’s recovery in the home fixture – where the Gills came from 0-2 to rescue a point.

“Two different teams as we’ve both got new players, but after going a goal down early at home is always difficult but we got the two back in the second half to get the point, but Saturday will be a different game completely – two different set ups and it will be a question of us going there and play as we have done in the last couple of games and taking the game to them.”

And then to the all-important squad news, and the Gills boss had for a change a good report after losing both Billy Bingham and Leo da Silva Lopes during the game.

“Hopefully they will both be fine – they trained Friday and hopefully will be OK for the weekend which will mean we’ve taken no casualties from Tuesday to take near enough a full squad forward.”

“Josh Rees has been back in training all week with a view to be involved whilst Alex Lacey is still probably a week away. Gabby (skipper Gabriel Zakuani) has had his operation this week but won’t be back until next season. We’ll have to do without him now until next season, but will look to keep him involved throughout his recovery!”

“The next four or five games are very important, and I think they will determine where we will finish at the end of the season. So, we’ll take each game as it comes which means that Wycombe becomes the most important of the season as it’s the next one!”

“We’ll get through that and then it’s Fleetwood in the week, but get a result at this one on Saturday and then we’re moving up the League and everyone is thinking more positive and that’s the way we’ve got to think about it!”