Gillingham’s interim boss Keith Millen was proud of the players’ efforts despite defeat against Notts County.

The Gills were beaten 2-1 at Priestfield but Millen felt they deserved a point from the League 2 fixture.

Report: Gillingham 1-2 Notts County

He said: “You want a team that is going to show commitment to the cause. They showed that. I thought they worked their socks off against a very good passing team that has been playing that way now for a season or so.

“They are very good at what they do, they are very good in possession and we knew we would have to work really hard to try and stop that.

“I was really proud of the players and I said to them at the end there is a way of losing the game, that was a way you lose a game and take positives from it. It is raw at the moment because I think we deserved a draw out of the game.

“We had some good opportunities, they did as well, it was one of those games where it’s whoever takes their chances.

“When you look at Notts County, their record this season, that is the way they play, they probably back themselves to score more goals than the opposition.

“We knew it was a difficult game, a difficult opposition, but for their effort and commitment and the few chances we had at the end, I think 2-2 would probably have been a fair result.

“You can’t hide from that frustration but you are not going to play a Notts County side every week. They are very good, their stats this season are 68% possession and what they do they do well.”

The Gills went a goal down late in the first half as Macauley Langstaff prodded the ball home from close range but the Gills got themselves back in it when Scott Malone weaved his way past a couple of challenges before firing into the bottom corner, early in the second half.

Gillingham conceded again, when Lewis Macari rifled home a shot, but there were plenty more chances for the hosts to level including late on when Jayden Clarke was in on the keeper.

“I will have to look again as to whether he could have lobbed him or taken another touch,” said Millen. “He certainly got there first and that was the key moment.

“Just before that I remember Ike when he came on he was great, did well, he put a great cross in for Macca who couldn’t quite get on it, they are the small margins that make a difference in the result.

“I was okay at half-time at 1-0, I felt we would come on again and have moments and we did second half. It wasn’t really anything tactically we did different, certainly not the first 20 minutes, just a little more belief maybe from us.

“When you are chasing the game you put more men forward and press high, but tactically it was a tough game, enjoyable when you are a coach, and the players tried their best. You are not always going to get it right.

“The crowd were good but sometimes it is difficult to educate the crowd to stay a bit patient.

“I felt that when we won it (the ball) we had opportunities to hurt them and when you look at their first goal we broke three versus two, we won the ball, broke on them, they left themselves open and we weren’t clinical enough, that is something you have probably heard all season, that when we have had opportunities we have not been clinical enough.

“You go from one end having an opportunity to score a goal and then they go down the other end and punish us, I thought it was small margins, but that is the way the game is, it will be important I pick the lads up on Monday and we will be ready Tuesday (at Swindon).”