Wimbledon 2 Gillingham 0: Reaction from head coach Stephen Clemence after League 2 defeat at Plough Lane

Gillingham head coach Stephen Clemence spoke of his pride in the side after they battled on with 10 men at Wimbledon.

The Gills went a goal down after 33 minutes and a man down five minutes after that which left them with an uphill battle. The Dons scored a second after the break but Clemence was keen to praise his side for their efforts against the odds.

Report: Wimbledon 2 Gillingham 0

Conor Masterson’s sending off for two cautions in two minutes made life tough for the remainder of the League 2 fixture.

Clemence said: “I am really proud of the boys in the second half with 10 men, their character was immense to have stayed in the game and to have created one or two things ourselves.”

Wimbledon’s Omar Bugiel scored both - the second on 65 minutes as he pounced on a loose ball after keeper Glenn Morris has saved Jake Reeves’ long-range effort.

Earlier Bugiel had headed home as he beat Masterson to the ball - the start of the Gillingham defender’s downfall on the night.

Clemence said: “We started the game well and obviously the games swings in a five or six minute period.

“A cross comes into our box and we should do better. The challenge isn’t good enough in the box and then a few minutes later we go down to 10 men.

“Yes, it’s disappointing because I felt we were right in the game, I felt we were giving them problems and obviously it wasn’t meant to be.

“I felt we were in a good place in the game, coming away from home, but the game swung in five or six minutes and it’s done now.

“I told the players I was really proud of them, with the way they kept going in the second half.

“It is easy for players to chuck the towel in when they go down to 10 men and give up but the boys certainly didn’t give up, that is when you learn