Watford 3 Gillingham 0

GILLINGHAM manager Ronnie Jepson reflected on what might have been following his side’s 3-0 Carling Cup defeat at Watford.

Jepson’s side missed an early penalty and had a chance cleared off the line and for the third time in two games had a player sent-off.

Defender Efe Sodje received a straight red after pole-axing Douglas Rinaldi early in the second half – but by then the Gills were already two goals down.

Jepson said: “We could have been 2-0 up and it would have been a different game altogether. Then you start the second half and the sending off completely changed the game.

“Even then my lads ran themselves into the ground as one or two of them did on Saturday. There were a few tired people in there because we ended with nine men on Saturday and ten against Watford but they never threw the towel in and we were creating chances. Hopefully sooner rather than later they end up in the back of the net.

“These things come to test you and it’s a test of character for me and my players and we’ll stick together and we don’t panic.”

Just 11 minutes had gone when Gary Mulligan had the chance to put Gillingham into a deserved lead, but from the spot he saw his penalty kick saved by keeper Richard Lee.

The Gills began the first half well but Watford improved as the game went by and on 21 minutes they went ahead when Tamas Priskin headed home Will Hoskins’ cross.

Watford scored their second on 36 minutes when Douglas Rinaldi netted from a free-kick on the edge of the Gills area.

Gillingham had a mountain to climb in the second half and the task got even harder early in the second half when Efe Sodje received a straight red for a foul on Rinaldi.

A third from Watford made it mission impossible for Gillingham as substitute Alec Campana headed past Simon Royce on 71 minutes.

Sodje faces a three match ban but Jepson revealed his intention to try and over-turn the red card.

He said: “The referee’s going to look at it. We will hopefully appeal against that and come out on the right side of it.”

GILLS: Royce, Southall, Sodje, King, Armstrong, Crofts, Stone, Bentley, Brown (Cogan 84mins), Graham (Pugh 84mins), Mulligan (Facey 30mins). Subs Not Used: Stillie, Clohessy. Attendance: 8,166