Reaction from Gillingham manager Neil Harris after their 2-1 defeat against Portsmouth in pre-season friendly at Priestfield

The good work from Gillingham during 89 minutes against Portsmouth was tarnished by the goal conceded in the last minute, said manager Neil Harris.

Gillingham had fought back to level against League 1 Portsmouth at Priestfield before old-boy Connor Ogilvie headed unopposed inside the box to win it for the visitors.

Report: Gills 1 Portsmouth 2

“I left the group in no uncertain terms about how I felt afterwards,” said the Gills boss.

“It can’t be praise and well done, well done all the time, if you get it wrong, players need to learn. What young players need to learn is the importance of what defending or scoring at the time means, it is people’s livelihoods and on a matchday there might be five or six thousand people there and they go home happy or disappointed on one moment. That is what the group has to learn and my job as a coach to develop them.

“I was delighted with so much stuff but ultimately the bottom line is not today, but in the league season, it is about winning games of football and the learning curve for the group was that we have conceded at the last knockings and that can’t happen during the season.

“Losing with the last kick of the game is not acceptable, we talk about pre-season and getting minutes and how results are irrelevant, they are to a certain degree, but players have to learn quickly that you have to do the right things in football, if they don’t do the right things then they are never going to play in my football team.”

Prior to that late winner for Portsmouth the Gills had competed well, conceding in the first half but pulling level with a goal from Olly Lee, scored direct from a corner kick.

Harris said: “Portsmouth were really good with the ball at times but our shape was excellent and we