Steve Evans frustrated as Gillingham throw away two-goal advantage

Posted Sunday, September 08, 2019 by PA

Steve Evans was left frustrated by a game of two halves after Gillingham blew a 2-0 half time lead to draw 2-2 with Tranmere at Prenton Park.

Alex Jakubiak and Alfie Jones gave the Gills a comfortable lead at the interval but Rovers returned a different animal after the break, restoring parity with strikes from Connor Jennings and Paul Mullin, who also missed a penalty.

The visitors wanted a spot kick themselves late on but ultimately had to settle for a point, with the Birkenhead side finishing the stronger.

Evans said: “We were by far the superior side in the first half. Tranmere are in the second.

“We missed a one-on-one and another good chance to make it three-zero – possibly then it’s over.

“They started really well second half but we weathered that storm well. Then we give a needless penalty away. We have the corner, we don’t make first contact, the ‘keeper’s made a good save then we have two half clearances and they stick it in the net.

“And then you know what you’re going to get at Tranmere. They got the (second) goal but someone needs to explain to me why they’ve not given us a penalty right on time up.”

The visitors led after 16 minutes, when an Ollie Lee corner was not dealt with by Rovers and despite Scott Davies heroically keeping out Max Ehmer’s header, Jakubiak was on hand to slam home the rebound.

The hosts were punished for more aerial ineptness 10 minutes before the break, when Davies could only palm a looping cross into the path of the unmarked Jones, who gleefully knocked it home from close range.

Mullin saw his spot kick brilliantly saved by Jack Bonham in the 66th minute but Tranmere quickly pulled one back, as Jennings dispatched a loose ball in the box on the next attack.

And Mullin finally got a return on his endeavour three minutes later, cutting inside before slamming a left foot shot past Bonham into the net.

Jennings had a late chance to win it in injury time but Bonham saved well to his right as the spoils were shared.

Tranmere boss Micky Mellon said: “The goals that we lost are poor but there wasn’t an awful lot between the two teams and I thought in the balance of play we didn’t deserve to be two goals down.

“We spoke at half time about what we needed to do, but we’re experienced and we know that with this crowd behind us here that the next goal is very important because that gets you momentum.

“Two-nil away can be a dangerous lead, because you hand that momentum to the home side and that’s probably what happened.

“We won’t say we’re delighted, but to fight back and get a draw shows a lot of character in the group.”