Referees give forward Oli Hawkins no help says his Gillingham striker partner Tom Nichols

Gillingham’s Tom Nichols feels for big striker Oli Hawkins over the rough treatment he receives.

Hawkins should have had a goal on Tuesday night - in a win over Crewe - but his effort was ruled out for a foul by the referee.

“He takes a lot of hits, does a lot of unsung hero work,” Nichols said, having netted himself in that midweek win.

“I feel for him at times, he gets two or three players on him all the time and the refs just don’t give him any help.

“With the goal disallowed, he gets man-handled by three players and to give the decision against him was ridiculous.

“I do feel for him because the refs give him no sympathy whatsoever, he gets gripped by three defenders and somehow it ends up being his fault.”

While big man Oli Hawkins is usually surrounded by defenders it’s left Nichols to scamper around the box making a nuisances of himself. He netted his fourth of the season on Tuesday.

Nichols said: “It does take a lot of pressure off me and allows me to stretch the play more and be busy around him, i do enjoy playing alongside him, he is a massive piece of the puzzle.

“He is great to play with, we are winning games of football as a team which is good. I like to be busy and run around and be involved, he does help us get up the pitch, a vital part of the team.”

All of Nichols’ four goals have come from Alex MacDonald assists.

It’s the first time the pair have played together and they’ve created instant chemistry.

“You do get it in football,” Nichols said. “When he gets the ball I know he is not going to try and dribble past five players and cross it from the byline, he gets the ball and his crossing ability is unbelievable.

“As soon as he gets the ball in a dangerous area I just get myself in the box and his delivery