It proved to be an opportunity missed for Gillingham on Saturday.

While teams above them in the League 1 table dropped points once again, they couldn’t capitalise.

A 1-0 defeat at Bradford City saw the Gills drop to 13th but the gap between themselves and the play-off places remains on eight points.

“That is the disappointing thing, it could have been five points,” said a frustrated Gills manager Steve Lovell.

His side had plenty of chances at Valley Parade but couldn’t take them. They now have nine games left as they look to keep alive their play-off dream.

“The game has gone,” said Lovell. “We will prepare now for Thursday and hopefully get back on track with a decent game against MK Dons.

“Nine to go, only six weeks of the season to go, it has flown by hasn’t it? We are still enjoying it, I love working with the boys, they are a great bunch.

“We will keep working to the end and whatever happens we will prepare against for next year.”

While the Gills were beaten on Saturday, Lovell had no problems with the way his team played.

He said: “In the dressing room at the end there was frustration, by all of us, it just shows what a committed group we are.

“We are all disappointed but we just roll our sleeves up now and get back at it, there is another game Thursday. If we keep performing like we have done then we will be fine.

“The boys were magnificent again. They gave everything, that is all you can ask of them.

"They are a good bunch of honest lads and that is what we have got out of this season, honesty and hard work, and the fact that they want to do well for the club.

“It was another good performance. We are disappointed with the result but we’ll just look to build on that performance for Thursday and look forward to that.”

The Gills are at home to MK Dons on Thursday with a 7.45pm kick-off and they then head to Southend United on Easter Monday (3pm).