Caretaker boss Steve Lovell was frustrated to see Gillingham’s good early work undone by some poor defending against Burton on Saturday.

Lovell labelled the goals conceded as shocking as the Gills let slip their 1-0 lead, conceding three in the second half as the visitors fought back to win the match 3-1.

• Report: Gillingham 1 Burton 3

“The first half was excellent,” said Lovell, reflecting on the positives first. “We prepared all week with our plan and the boys went about it in a very professional way and did everything that was asked of them. But it is no good doing it for 45 minutes, although for the majority of the second half we were fine.

“We had to chase it at the end and we went 2-1 down but the two goals we conceded were terrible, it is about responsibility for players to deal with that and it was shocking really. You can’t legislate for it.

“You can prepare all week in training for it, do your things and play your way and try and do your own set-plays which is where we got our goal from and it all comes off. But if people aren’t prepared to do the proper things, in marking people and doing their jobs in preventing the crosses coming in, then you are going to lose games and this has been the story of the season so far.

“There were mistakes, people not doing their jobs and I have said to them I don’t know how long I am going to be here but as long as I am and people aren’t going to do their roles and be prepared to take on the responsibilities then there is no point in them playing.

“There is no point playing football for 45 minutes and playing well and then conceding the goals that we did.

“I know we lost a couple of players to injury in the second half and a couple of them were flagging because they haven’t played in the last three or four weeks, but that is no excuse, we have players going on there in the second half, subs going on and they have to have an influence on the team and did they? No, I don't think they did.

“There are players here who think they should be in the team, you give them the opportunity to go and do it and you expect to get something out of it but I question that.

“The first half was pleasing and when you are in the position down the bottom which the club is in, it is sometimes hard to lift players and get them up but they have been great this week.

“I can’t blame the players for the commitment they put in but if we are giving the goals away like we did against Burton then you are never gong to get a result.”