Andy Hessenthaler has slammed the individuals in the Gillingham crowd who singled out youngster Jack Evans for abuse on Tuesday night.

The teenage defender, making only his fourth senior start, made a couple of early errors in the 5-4 win against Hereford and Gills manager Hessenthaler (pictured) admitted he pulled him off at half-time partly to protect him from the criticism from a section of the crowd.

Hessenthaler said: "He is a young boy. I could hear the fans shouting ‘take him off’. I feel for the kid. He is just a first year pro. He is getting an opportunity and how does that do anyone’s confidence any good?

"I don’t think that’s right. It wasn’t all the crowd, it was just certain individuals. They shouldn’t do that to a young boy and I took him off to protect him at half-time because I was concerned for him.

"Any little mistake at that stage and it could have really knocked him. He was upset at half-time and we can’t have players upset."

Evans helped the side to successive clean sheets in the previous two matches but conceded a penalty in the opening moments on Tuesday and was beaten for the second goal.

Hessenthaler knows, at just 18, Evans has plenty to learn but was incensed by the abuse.

"Vent their anger to me, not to a young kid," said the Gills boss.

"He is still learning the game. He kicked on from that to be fair and there was a great opportunity for a goal (crossed in by Evans) that was disallowed for off-side.

"All I would say to people is remember how old he is."