Gillingham’s penalty against Crawley Town in League 2 clash at Priestfield shouldn't have been given, according to visiting boss Scott Lindsey

Gillingham scored from the penalty spot against Crawley Town on Saturday but the stats don’t add up to the visiting manager’s claim.

Crawley’s Charlie Barker was adjudged by referee Paul Howard to have handled the ball as he slid in to block Max Clark’s goalbound shot. Gillingham were awarded their seventh penalty of the season, which was converted by Robbie McKenzie, to put the Gills 2-1 in front.

Visiting boss Scott Lindsey - a former Gills player who has in recent seasons been in the running for the management role at Priestfield on several occasions - disagreed with the decision but admitted he wasn’t surprised by it.

He said: “It wasn’t a penalty, in my opinion, it’s not handball but Gillingham have historically had more penalties for them than any other club, so no shock there.”

The Gills have been awarded more penalties than any other team in League 2 this season - but it’s far from a trend.

Gillingham’s seven penalties this season have resulted in five goals, scored by Armani Little (2), Max Clark, Bradley Dack and Robbie McKenzie.

Gills boss Gareth Ainsworth felt it was a legitimate penalty on Saturday, saying: “Clarky’s shot is going in and it is a handball in the Premier League with VAR, that's a penalty all day, and I'm glad the referee spotted that one.”

The Gills had winger Garath McCleary penalised by the FA for what they deemed a dive to win a penalty at Bromley earlier in the season, leading to a two-game ban.

Commenting on the number of penalties awarded to the Gills, Ainsworth defended his team.

He said: “The ban for Garath still baffles me. He could have gone down earlier in the move if he’d have wanted to dive. That's one that still pains me a little.

“Apart from that, they've all been legitimate. I