Lovell delighted as Gillingham all but secure survival with point at Bradford

Posted Tuesday, April 23, 2019 by PA

Manager Steve Lovell believes Gillingham are just about safe from relegation after taking a hard-earned point in a 1-1 draw at relegated Bradford City.

The result leaves them six points above the League One safety mark with two games to play.

Bottom club Bradford went in front after ten minutes when the visitors’ defence failed to deal with Billy Clarke’s inswinging free kick from the right and right back Kelvin Mellor scored with a close range header.

But Gillingham equalised in the 53rd minute when keeper Ben Wilson failed to hold substitute Bradley Garmston’s left wing cross and Brandon Hanlon squeezed the ball over the line.

Lovell said: “I think we are pretty safe with 52 points – the teams around the bottom of the table have got to play each other and I don’t think anyone can get six points. So we can enjoy the last two games of the season.

“The win against Plymouth on Good Friday was a really important result for us. It took us to 51 points which I think would have been enough.

“I think we deserved to beat Bradford on the balance of play. I thought our football was excellent, the way we passed the ball around and we created three or four really good opportunities in the first half which we didn’t take.

“In the second half we used the ball very well and we were disappointed not to score a second goal to win the game.”

The result ended Bradford’s run of seven consecutive defeats and avoided equalling a club record set in 1933.

Manager Gary Bowyer said: “It was important to try to win the game. Unfortunately, we were not able to see out the game, but at last we didn’t lose so I was pleased with a point.

“That said, I thought we deserved more. Gillingham had only had one attempt on goal and that was something we should have dealt with, but there were a lot of positives to be taken from the game in individual performances.”

He was especially pleased with Mellor, who has missed seven games with a knee injury. Bowyer, who signed Mellor for his former club Blackpool, said: “To have Kelvin back was huge and I was pleased to see him get through a full 90 minutes and score our goal. To have defenders who can score goals takes pressure off the strikers.

“The mood among the players is one of acceptance that we are going down, but we have got to finish the season as strongly as we can and pick two wins from our remaining matches before we start the re-building job which is required in the summer.

“The players are playing for their careers and cannot afford not to perform.”