Steve Lovell relieved after Gillingham late show

Posted Sunday, April 29, 2018 by PA

Gillingham boss Steve Lovell admitted to breathing a huge sigh of relief as his team secured League One survival with a battling display.

It looked like being another tense afternoon for visiting fans when Rochdale led at Oxford and Rovers stole an 86th-minute lead through substitute Dom Telford.

But Gillingham had a goalscoring sub of their own in Elliott List, whose first goal for the club deep into stoppage time, combined with Rochdale’s 2-1 defeat, meant Lovell could relax for the first time since taking charge last October.

“Of course it’s a relief,” he said. “The main thing today was to get over the line and achieve safety.

“I have lost a few hairs on my head getting there, but all credit to everyone involved.

“I’m pleased for Elliott List, scoring his first goal for us. I told him he won’t get a more important one.

“At one point Rochdale were winning and it was a bit tense on the bench. Then they fell behind, Elliott scored and everything changed.

“It will be my team next season and I will work with them in pre-season to ensure we hit the ground running.”

Rovers thought they had edged a drab contest when Telford headed in late on after his initial shot had been blocked.

But Gillingham refused to give up and List sparked wild celebrations among more than 400 travelling fans when shooting low past Sam Slocombe from 10 yards deep into four minutes of stoppage time.

It was not the outcome Rovers full-back Lee Brown wanted on his final appearance for the Pirates after seven years of service.

He scored the goal that took the Pirates into the third tier three seasons ago and was given a fantastic send-off by grateful supporters.

Home boss Darrell Clarke said: “I want to thank our fans for their support and Lee Brown for seven seasons with us in which he has been an absolute credit.

“It was great to see the tribute the supporters paid to Lee. We will miss him in our dressing room and he won’t be easy to replace.

“For whatever reason we looked leggy today and were not able to carry on the momentum of Tuesday night’s performance against Wigan.

“That probably shows why we are mid-table, rather than in the play-offs. But our club is in a fantastic place compared to four years ago and we are well-placed to progress further.

“Recruitment in the summer will be key and we will endeavour to get the balance right.”

Tom Eaves hit a post for Gillingham in the first half and a draw was a fair outcome.