Gillingham took little comfort from earning a point on Saturday, said coach Steve Lovell.

The Gills had some great opportunities in the opening half against Swindon but the game finished goalless.

For Lovell and the team, it felt like a loss.

He said: “It was very disappointing and in the dressing room afterwards it was as if we lost the game.

“That’s how it feels when you have so much possession and so much of the game, and don’t turn it into three points.

“We started very well and created a number of good opportunities. We could have had a penalty. You get decisions like that and then the game becomes easy for you.”

Ryan Jackson was tripped in the box early on, but the referee waved away the protests. Lovell was certain it was a penalty.

He said: “We thought we should have had a penalty; I thought it was definite, we all do.

“Jacko said it was and he is such an honest lad, he wouldn’t say otherwise.

“Some decisions you get and some you don’t and I think it does even itself out. Recently I think we have had a few go against us but we get on with it.

“We were very disappointed not to get a penalty because that changes the game, doesn’t it? The boys kept going, they didn’t let it get to them. They created more chances but it wasn’t to be on the day.”

Even before the penalty incident Rory Donnelly hit a post.

Lovell said: “He has done everything right. Although it sounds bizarre, he said it was going in and the wind took it and it hit the post.

“Obviously, being a centre forward, I know you can make excuses, but Rory is such an honest fella and he did everything right. Sometimes things just don’t go for you.”