Lovell takes the positives from rescuing point against Wycombe

Posted Sunday, December 16, 2018 by PA

Steve Lovell was trying to only take the positives after his Gillingham side hit back to claim a share of the spoils in a 2-2 draw with in-form Wycombe Wanderers.

But the Gills boss had to admit that his side’s slow starts were becoming a problem after Adam El-Abd and Nathan Tyson both struck inside the first 20 minutes for the Chairboys.

But Lovell and his side turned things around after the break as League One top scorer Tom Eaves and then Josh Parker struck to level up proceedings.

“After the first 17 minutes I’d have taken a point,” said Lovell.

“We didn’t start well at all and they deserved to be in the lead.
That’s the pattern of our season: if we start well we get good results and we make games easy for ourselves.

“But Wycombe pressed us, had a real go and had lively players who caused us problems. We looked weak and vulnerable at the back.

“We changed things up and had a go in the second half because we had to. I said to the players at half-time that the game was all about how they were going to play in the second half.

“There was no point going over what had happened in the first half.

“We got two good goals and could have won it late on. I leave here tonight on a positive – it would have been different if we’d have been 2-0 up and drawn.

“You always hear managers admitting that their team didn’t start a game well – it happens throughout all levels of football. If you could bottle that up and sell it you’d be a millionaire.

“Sometimes you’ve got to give the opposition credit and that is one of those; they played very well. I’ve got to admit that.”

For Gareth Ainsworth and the Chairboys it was mixed emotions after seeing three points slip through their fingers.

“Before the game I’d have taken a point – but at half-time I wouldn’t have,” he said.

“We were much the better side first half and in patches in the second half. We had 16, maybe 18, shots at goal, and a lot of them were on target. Their keeper made some terrific saves – we were unlucky not to get another.

“We limited them to only a couple of chances but I’ve got to give their players and Steve credit for coming back in the second half.

“This will be a great point if we can win at home next week. Any point away in League One is good – let’s not forget where we were a year ago in League Two.

“We’re a small club in League One, we’re six games unbeaten and we’re disappointed to only get a point away at Gillingham, a tough place to come.”