Gillingham's Stuart O’Keefe wasn’t hiding away from his costly error at Shrewsbury on Tuesday.

A missed clearance allowed Omar Beckles in to equalise for the hosts, cancelling out O’Keefe’s opener from the penalty spot.

It was a blow for the in-form midfielder who received high-praised from manager Steve Evans despite the lapse.

O’Keefe said: “It was a very good performance, we managed to get ourselves infront and were quite comfortable. But at the moment it seems like individual errors are costing us and it was the same on Saturday.

“I felt quite comfortable, got the penalty and then for me, it was just a lapse of concentration almost, I am not sure.

“I was going the other way and the ball went behind me. I felt like I had to get something on it but it ricocheted to their guy and he has tapped it in.

“For me, I am very disappointed. We should have had three points and like the gaffer said to us in the changing room, it is these errors that are costing us at the moment.

“Saturday was another and we can almost go through most games. If we could see games out, we would be a lot higher than we are showing.

“We have to learn quick because it is a ruthless business, fine lines every week, but we will take a point, recover and go again on Saturday.”

• Evans wanted more
• Report: Shrewsbury 1 Gillingham 1

Evans praised O’Keefe for his “terrific” form and the player feels – one error aside – that things are going well for him.

“I feel good,” he said. “Since the Ipswich game when I came in and then (against) Southend I got the goal. I feel fit, energetic and ready.

“There was just a bit of disappointment on Tuesday that we couldn’t see the game out and go home with all three points.

“There is a sense of disappointment that even though we have gone away with a good point, it needs to be better. Hopefully we can build on it when we go away on Saturday.”

O’Keefe may have surprised some, after taking the ball when the Gills were awarded a penalty, but the midfielder is currently the no.1 choice, ahead of strikers including Brandon Hanlan and Alex Jakubiak.

The Gills have missed three penalties in normal time so far this season and lost to Newport on penalties in the League Cup.

“I knew if we had one I was on it,” he said. “We got it and I tucked it away.

“Penalties are nerve-wracking and you just do what you have to do but if you are confident in your ability to strike the ball you should score. If the keeper saves it he has done well, but you have to back yourself and find the corner, hit it true and that’s all you can do.”

Looking ahead to their weekend trip to Accrington, he said: “It is going to be tough, we will have to be solid and disciplined, and we have to have a bit more going forward if we want to win on the road.

“We know what we are coming up against. We will recover right and go again.”

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