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Gillingham forward Brandon Hanlan's display at Luton gets thumbs up from manager Steve Lovell

00:00, 19 March 2019

updated: 10:45, 19 March 2019

Brandon Hanlan failed to find the net on Saturday but boss Steve Lovell was delighted with the player’s performance.

Hanlan had a flurry of first half opportunities that he was unable to convert and remained a threat in the second half too, at Luton.

Unfortunately he couldn’t find the finishing touch.

Brandon Hanlan is watched closely by the Luton defence Picture: Ady Kerry
Brandon Hanlan is watched closely by the Luton defence Picture: Ady Kerry

Boss Steve Lovell said: “With the balls that Luke O’Neill was putting into the box first half I was thinking ‘I would love to be out there myself to get on the end of them’.

“Brandon (got on the end of them) a couple of times first half but he didn’t get across the keeper and he didn’t quite connect, one with a volley and one with a header, then when he created a chance for himself and bent it into the keeper’s near post, where he should have gone for far post.

“It was a tremendous game for him, I thought he played really well, he battled well and he won things and he just needed that goal to finish it off.”

Lovell has been keen to add goals to Hanlan’s game as he sees the young forward as a star in the making. He's got five goals this season from his 36 appearances.

It was down to Tom Eaves to make it count on Saturday, the more experienced striker rising high to head home Gills’ first equaliser of the game, his 19th goal of the season.

Like Hanlan, Lovell was impressed with his showing.

“It was one of Tom Eaves’ better game and a good goal as well,” said the manager.

“I thought he was back to his best.

“(That’s when) he does things simple, when he keeps in the box and does things centrally and hardly ever did he get out into wide areas, that is something we have been on to him ever since I have been here I think, the penny has dropped.

“He got one of those tap-ins, with his header, that is where he will get his goals and where we want him to be.”

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