Gillingham manager Gareth Ainsworth reacts to 4-1 League 2 defeat at home to leaders Bromley

Gillingham boss Gareth Ainsworth admitted he let rip at half-time after a first-half horror show against Bromley on Saturday.

The full extent of Ainsworth’s rage will be kept behind closed doors but he was fuming with his side’s poor defending as League 2 leaders Bromley raced into a 3-0 lead within 28 minutes at Priestfield before going on to complete a 4-1 victory.

“I don't believe that going full blast and full hairdryer mode, the modern game doesn't really have much room for that,” stated Ainsworth. “Not week in, week out, people get used to it.

“But I told the boys in no uncertain terms that I wasn't happy at all.

“There weres some real under-par performances, some unrecognisable players on that pitch and unless they put it right, then I'm going to have to change this around. I'm going to have to start changing things.

“I think the formation change after 30 minutes helped us, definitely.

“But it was a tough half-time that, because it's not just the shape or the way you play you want to put right. You want to put right individual mistakes that you don't expect from certain players.

“That's like, wow, where's that come from? But there's reasons. The reasons will be kept behind closed doors, as always, and I will make sure that this team is firing next weekend.”

Ainsworth didn’t let his players take all the responsibility.

He’ll also be reviewing what he did wrong. Having lined up with a 4-3-3 formation, the Gills let in three goals at home for the first time under Ainsworth and had switched to 3-5-2 just past the half-hour mark.

“I picked the team,” said the Gills boss. “It's on me, that one. I am gutted for the fans because I know how important that one was.

“Bromley showed a lot of why they are top of the league and