Gillingham boss Steve Evans concedes his side deserved nothing from their defeat against Blackpool

Gillingham boss Steve Evans admits he's got no complaints about his side's 4-1 defeat to Blackpool today.
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Blackpool 4-1 Gillingham: Neil Critchley's men see off top-six rivals in emphati...

Blackpool saw off Evans' men in emphatic fashion to cement their spot in the League One play-offs.

A clinic of incisive passing and clinical finishing saw Neil Critchley’s side extend their unbeaten run to 13 games in this Easter Monday encounter.

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More importantly, it dealt a major blow to a direct rival as they moved four points clear of Charlton Athletic in seventh, with a game in hand still to play.

Jerry Yates scored two of the four goals, as he became the first Blackpool player to bag 20 in a season since Andy Morrell during the 2006/07 promotion-winning campaign.

Sullay Kaikai and Elliot Embleton also got on the scoresheet.

The win also extends Blackpool’s unbeaten run on home turf, where they’ve still not been beaten since October 20 - an impressive streak that extends 16 games in all competitions.

Gillingham boss Steve EvansGillingham boss Steve Evans
Gillingham boss Steve Evans

“We’ve got no complaints,” Evans told Kent Messenger.

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“We didn’t produce the type of performance that we have done probably since the middle of January, there are various things I could say, but we were well beaten.

“We started well but conceded two poor goals, one is a ricochet in the middle of the park and the young striker (Yates) has got onto it and scored. We missed a couple of chances to equalise, we then get the goal from Jordan Graham (to make it 1-1).

“I am not sure it is a free-kick for their second goal but the referee (Darren Drysdale) had a good performance. It was nice to see him back, he deservedly went away after taking his punishment (for a confrontation with an Ipswich Town player) but he came back and performed well.

“We didn’t defend the free-kick right, we have got a nominated marker and got nowhere near him and a striker in form scores. The third goal is well worked, probably their best goal of the game, it is a great finish.

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“There was a pivotal moment before half-time, Stuart O’Keefe bursts into the box, a tremendous strike and a brilliant save. It turns 3-1 and the conversation is about whether we get the next goal or whether Blackpool get the next goal.

“They were better than us. They got the fourth goal and we will take the pain all the way back to Kent, it’s a long journey.

“We lost up here against Fleetwood but that was totally different circumstances, we should have beaten Fleetwood but we deserved to get nothing against Blackpool.”

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