Portsmouth 5 Gillingham 1: Reaction from interim manager Keith Millen after EFL Trophy group match at Fratton Park

The pace and power of the opposition proved too much for Gillingham in the second half on Tuesday night, said the interim manager Keith Millen.

While he felt the 5-1 scoreline was harsh on his side, which included several young players making their debuts, he conceded that the opposition were a level above.

More: Portsmouth 5-1 Gillingham

Mille said: “It is (harsh) but as I said to the players afterwards, we can’t ignore that we’ve conceded three goals from set-pieces which is massive in this game, at any level, for and against, they are so important.

“The manner of those three goals was disappointing and yes we’re disappointed to have conceded five, it sounds like a terrible scoreline and it hides a little bit the pleasing aspects of what we did, certainly in the first half, where we were excellent.

“Everything I asked of them, being brave on the ball, playing through the lines, end product, you could see how good they can be in possession and it was a really pleasing first half.

“Second half I felt the pace and power that they had probably was the difference a little bit. All of a sudden, when they were one versus one in the first half it looked like we could cope with it, second half they exposed us.

“It was hard second half. I am trying to manage the game with Saturday in mind, but I also wanted to continue the good work we did first half. The second half was tough, I don’t think we deserved to concede five but when you do, you can’t ignore them.”

Millen had a number of injured players that were left behind, six at the last count, which meant first senior starts for Ike Orji and Matty Macarthur. Young pro Alex Giles made his first-team debut and second-year scholar Stan Skipper also came off the bench for a first