Gillingham 1 Bristol Rovers 2: Reaction from Gills boss Gareth Ainsworth after League Two defeat at Priestfield

Gillingham manager Gareth Ainsworth despaired at watching his side throw away their advantage on Saturday.

The Gills looked in charge at the break, 1-0 up thanks to Ronan Hale’s penalty, but two minutes into the second half Rovers took the lead, when a second phase from a corner led to a goal.

Report: Gillingham 1 Bristol Rovers 2

Ainsworth’s men struggled to recover and the manager admitted the second goal they conceded was comical.

“[It was like] two totally different halves,” said the Gills boss.

“We got applauded off at half-time because of the effort and the play, and then we didn't defend a corner after the first minute of the second half. We defended it really badly.

“I'm trying to work on these set-pieces. I've got people who work on them daily to say, ‘Right, we're conceded too many set-plays’, and we do it again.

“All I can say is that I've got to make changes, because there are players who make the same mistakes, the same things over and over, and that's terrible.”

The Gills were beaten 2-1 after conceding a second goal on 72 minutes

Ainsworth said: “The second goal is just comical, really, defending, it's terrible.

“Armani tries to win the header. He knows there's a man behind him. He doesn't know he's offside. Because Armani touches the ball, he now becomes onside with this second-phase rule and that causes mayhem.

“But we then have to react better. [Goalkeeper] Jake [Turner’s] made two great saves, but [it’s] comical defending, and that really knocks the stuffing out of me.

“It's the same thing, the club, year after year, we just fall away in the second half of the season. We've got to be better, we have to be better.

“First half, we played some good stuff, picked the second balls up, we looked