Steve Evans said his players must learn quickly after Bristol Rovers lost 3-0 to Gillingham in Sky Bet League Two.
The Pirates were looking to get back to winning ways after losing 2-0 away at Grimsby Town in their previous fixture, but had similar away troubles at Priestfield Stadium.
After a first half where both teams had chances to break the deadlock, the Gills took complete control after the break. James Brophy broke the deadlock before Sheldon Kendall came off the bench to net twice in the final few minutes to complete the victory.
Speaking to the media after the defeat, Evans was disappointed with the performance and pinpointed his biggest concerns.
THOUGHTS ON THE GAME
"We never saw the second half coming, did we? I think we probably edged the first half with more possession and more opportunities in the final third without really taking advantage of them, and then we seemed to go to pieces after the goal. It's a simple error — a simple header away — and we miss the header, and the same player sends someone inside. Then we're one-nil down, and you're having to fight here because this is a decent Gillingham side, as we know, with big investment, so we're having to work ourselves back into the game.
"The second goal is a simple one-two in the middle of the park, a cross, and a finish. He's off our centre-backs and scored. I'm not concerned afterwards because we're having to throw caution to the wind and throw players forward. But we need to learn, and learn very quickly, that if you don't do the basics right in League Two, you're staying in League Two."
BIGGEST CONCERNS
"The individual errors for the goals — big errors, but it seems to me that after that four-game winning run we had, some individuals have lost the humbleness. The first thing you need to remain is humble in this game. The minute you think you're a little bit above it, it bites you. I'm splitting it into two halves today because I think the first half was a competent away performance in a difficult place to come. Perhaps you'd maybe turn a goal in front, but we don't, and we're paying the price for individual errors. As I said, I'm less concerned later on."
EXPECTING MORE FROM HIS PLAYERS
"In certain periods in the second half, we never won our tackles, we never won our challenges, we were second to react. We didn't win any headers up front until Joe Quigley came on — Joe won a couple of headers — but then we're just scrapping for bits off the plate."
IMPRESSED BY JACK AITCHISON
"The best player by a distance, but he didn't get any movement in wide areas, not enough support in forward areas. When your main central striker is not having a good day, and your two wide players are lacking that little bit of quality on the day, then it's going to be hard for Jack, but I think he's still your best player."
NEEDING TO REACT
"We're looking forward to getting back on the training ground. There's no excuse I'm going to put in front of the second half. Other than, as a group, I just said to them at the end — Paul came into the dressing room and used the same words — where's our humbleness gone? Where's our right to fight, desire, and win second balls? Because that's what makes us a good team."
MEES RIJKS DEPARTS ON LOAN
"He needed some games. Mees has been at us for a week or two asking if he can go on loan. We looked at the options we've got, so we've given him the opportunity to go there [Forest Green Rovers] for three months. If we need him back in four and a half weeks, we'll bring him back."
