Fleetwood 2 Gillingham 1: Reaction from Gills boss Gareth Ainsworth after League Two defeat at Highbury

Gillingham manager Gareth Ainsworth highlighted unacceptable defensive mistakes and missed chances as they slipped to defeat at Fleetwood on Saturday.

Bradley Dack had put the Gills in front during a positive opening half, but just like the week before, when they led 2-0 at the break against Barrow to draw 2-2, the Gills again conceded twice in the second half, this time losing the game 2-1.

Report: Fleetwood 2 Gillingham 1

“The (windy) conditions played a part, but we've got to defend better in the second half,” Ainsworth said.

“We lost too many battles in the second half, and we're just thin on the ground with numbers and bodies and are just trying to get some balls up top to be held up and stick. They weren't doing that. They were coming straight back at us. The type that (injured strikers) Josh [Andrews] and Sam Vokes would probably thrive off.

“We had enough chances in the first half to go one, two or three up, but if you miss your chances, you're always prone to getting punished, and Fleetwood punished us second-half. They were quite relentless in what they were doing.”

Dack scored on 14 minutes, and despite the Gills being on top, they were unable to build on that lead; in the end grateful that Fleetwood’s only chance on target of the first half was cleared off the line.

It was a different story after the break as the Gills continued their habit of only managing one decent half in a match.

Ryan Graydon leveled with a free header for Fleetwood and although Dack hit the post with a flicked effort for the Gills, the home side had a penalty saved when Jake Turner denied Ched Evans.

Moments later an Evans cross was tapped home by substitute Zech Medley - the former Arsenal junior who had half a season on loan with