Lovell welcomes last-gasp victory over ‘fantastic’ Burton

Gillingham boss Steve Lovell admits “fantastic” Burton did not deserve to be left empty-handed after seeing his side snatch a dramatic stoppage-time winner at the Pirelli Stadium.

The Gills, fresh from their FA Cup win over Cardiff, looked in a strong position at half-time thanks to goals from Elliott List and Callum Reilly.

But Burton were giving it their all as they sought to bounce back from the 9-0 Carabao Cup mauling at the hands of Manchester City and they drew level thanks to Scott Fraser’s second-half brace.

Nigel Clough’s men appeared the more likely winners but it would be Gillingham who snatched the three points thanks to substitute Josh Rees’ last-gasp strike.

Lovell was delighted for the 25-year-old, a summer signing from Bromley, but also admitted Burton could consider themselves very unfortunate to have finished on the losing side.

He said: “For Josh Rees to come on and get the winning goal was just amazing really and it was an excellent three points for us.

“From my point of view it wasn’t a great game to watch. I thought they [Burton] were fantastic. That was probably the best team that we have played against this year with the ball. They were excellent and we had to do everything to defend it.”

List led a swift counter-attack to fire the Gills ahead after 24 minutes before ex-Albion midfielder Reilly netted from the penalty spot on the stroke of half-time after Stephen Quinn had been harshly penalised for handball from Luke O’Neill’s free-kick.

Lovell added: “Going in 2-0 at half-time we knew that they would come out second half strong.

“In fact we knew they would come out first half after their midweek game obviously.

“But sometimes we have had games where we have been on top and got nothing from it, so we know what it is like when you feel you deserve to get something and to be fair I thought Burton deserved to get something out of the game.

“That is not taking anything away from the credit that our players deserve. They had to dig in and they got the result in the end.”

Burton boss Clough was left frustrated again that defensive frailties had undermined a good attacking performance and left his side with nothing from a game they really should have gone on to win after Fraser’s two-goal salvo.

He said: “For 25 or 30 minutes in that second half, as well as the first, we have played some brilliant stuff but you have to back that up with some defensive solidity and that is our problem.

“Gillingham couldn’t cope with how we were playing today and they were hanging on but you have to make them pay and whereas the top teams, as we witnessed on Wednesday night, make you pay we are certainly not a good enough side to do that right now.

“I wanted the players to be a bit angrier today and as angry as we have been in the week.

“No matter who you play you always want to go out next game and make them suffer and take it out on the opposition. We nearly did it today but we weren’t angry enough or aggressive enough at times.”