Adrian Pennock insists Gillingham won’t throw in the towel despite falling to their third consecutive defeat.

The last minute 1-0 loss to Peterborough United at Priestfield on Saturday afternoon has left The Gills looking nervously over their shoulders into the League One relegation zone.

With just six games left to play this season and sitting 19th in the league, Pennock’s side find themselves just three points above the drop zone, but crucially both Port Vale (two games in hand) and Shrewsbury Town (one game in hand) have a chance to climb above The Gills.

Having seen his side condemned to another home defeat, Pennock, who turns 46 today, was critical of his under performing side:

“I thought that on the ball we were very poor and our ball retention wasn’t good at all. I don’t think we could get two or three passes together for ninety minutes and nor could they. It was a poor game, and when you play those games, you must get something out of it and we haven’t.”

“It’s a bit of quality at the end and they’ve scored, but he has the freedom of the park and that’s what I’m worried about.”

“It was a stop-start, stop-start game as we came out late for the second half. It didn’t flow as we wanted to; the pitch was lively and a bit bumpy but it was the same for both sides.”

With relegation now being talked about amongst fans, Pennock admits his side need to be realistic and roll their sleeves up:

“We’ve got to embrace it and we know it’s going to be tough. We’ve got to stay up. The players know what the situation is – they know what they’ve got to do, and we’ll have a right old go.”

“I’m very determined. Of course, it is my job and everyone’s job to stick together and go from there. We’re not throwing in the towel, and the players won’t throw in the towel that’s for sure.”

Debutants Tomas Holy and Harry Cornick impressed Pennock with the tall keeper coming in for Stuart Nelson, whilst the on loan Bournemouth winger came off the bench.

Having handed Holy a start, Pennock was pleased with everything the Czech stopper had done:

“It was the time to bring in Holy as he’s a bit of a presence, obviously. He was confident and his kicking was good.”

“I think he was a bit nervous the first five or ten minutes but he grew into the game and he was beaten by a very good goal but, other than that, he did okay.”

Meanwhile, Pennock was pleased to have finally been able to give Cornick some minutes:

“Harry was bright; he was taking people on and winning corners. I feel sorry for the centre-forwards today, as they got nothing. They worked their socks off and that was disappointing.”

Gillingham now have all week to prepare for Saturday’s League One fixture at Milton Keynes Dons in what now must be a game Pennock’s side must take something from.