Gillingham manager Gareth Ainsworth says midfielder Bradley Dack sets his standards high after goalless draw at Colchester United in League 2

Bradley Dack was left frustrated he didn’t claim a winner for Gillingham on Saturday.

That was the view of manager Gareth Ainsworth after the talismanic midfielder went close to breaking the deadlock at Colchester in League 2.

Dack had two chances in quick succession early in the second half. On the first occasion, he did well to get back on his feet and create space before his low shot was saved, then his delicate chip landed on the roof of the net rather than dipping just under the bar.

They were openings few other players on the pitch would have been capable of but 31-year-old Dack’s standards are so high, he felt he could have done better.

“I thought we had a lot of chances in that second half,” said Ainsworth.

“Bradley Dack, the one you want it to fall to, he's gutted in there because he wants to hit the target, and that's brilliant.

“It was like when he was at Blackburn years ago, he was flying when he was scoring goals like that.

“He's beating himself up. Everyone's beating themselves up for a tackle or something.

“Bradley beat himself up because he didn't score an absolute wonder goal. But that's his standards, and he seemed to get volleys, but they just got blocked at the last minute. So, fair play to Colchester and the defenders.

“The one in the first half as well, it got deflected and the keeper made a wonder save (from Seb Palmer-Houlden) so fair play to him.”

Dack seemed to be more involved in the game at the start of the second half.

But Ainsworth dismissed any suggestion that it was a tactical tweak from the Gills that prompted that change.

“We were stepping onto that ball second half,” explained Ainsworth. “I told them that we had to win more balls in centre midfield because we had an overload at times.