Allen: I'm disappointed but not heartbroken

Gillingham's unbeaten start to the league two season was ended on Saturday afternoon when Rochdale became the first side to beat The Gills when they won 2-1 at Priestfield.

Martin Allen, as he told BBC Radio Kent, admits his side were "below the tempo" they have set this season but did all they could, even with 10-men, to get back into the game: 'We tried our best to get back into it. It wasn't a very good first-half performance, but in the games so far the players have been absolutely spot on.

'First half was the first time we've slipped below the tempo we've played at.

The crowd were a bit flat in the first-half but the Gillingham boss knows the players need to "play their part", which they did in the second half.

Defeat leaves him "disappointed" but not "heartbroken": 'It was nothing to do with the crowd, it's the players performance - me and the team. You don't turn up and applaud if you're watching paint dry - it doesn't happen.

'The crowd in the second half were fantastic because of the players' performance. Fair play, second half with 10 men we took it to them, we went all out. I'm disappointed but not heartbroken.'

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