Gillingham’s Wembley hopes took a battering on Tuesday night but it’s not over yet, insists coach Steve Lovell.

An open attacking display at Priestfield saw the Gills go down to a 4-2 defeat in the area final first leg of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy against Bristol City.

The second leg, at City’s Ashton Gate, takes place in February.

“We are in it without a doubt,” said Lovell.

“At 3-2 I am thinking we are going to nick it, we were going to get another goal, then the tie is by far not over and it still isn’t over yet. There are two goals.

“We have got nothing to lose going down there. We have to go there and have go again and we will do it. If we are still involved we will play the same way and have a go.”

Away goals don’t count in the competition and there would be no extra-time either if the Gills can level things up in the second leg. If the scores are level on aggregate then the tie will be settled on a penalty shoot-out.

Gillingham would need to beat the League 1 leaders by three goals to win outright.

Lovell is part of a four-man team looking after the first team while a new manager is found.

After conceding four against City the coach knows that the defending still needs working on.

He said: “It is a balance and unfortunately we haven’t had the time to work on what we want to work on.

“We have identified things but it is about having the time. We know what we need to work on but whether we have the time we don’t know.

“The attacking side of it is good. The defensive side we need to nail up a bit.”