Gillingham Manager Criticizes Team’s Attacking Performance After Crewe Defeat

A lackluster performance in front of goal left Gillingham manager Mark Bonner frustrated as his team succumbed to a 2-0 defeat against Crewe Alexandra on Saturday. The loss meant Gillingham fell from the top spot in League Two, now trailing Walsall based on goal-scoring metrics.

The match at The Mornflake Stadium saw Crewe take the lead with goals from Shilow Tracey in each half, showcasing superior precision that Bonner’s men found elusive. “I was fuming,” Bonner said post-match, expressing his dissatisfaction with the team’s inability to capitalize on opportunities.

Gillingham’s performance over the past week has been underwhelming, with the loss to Crewe following a disappointing result against Grimsby Town. Bonner highlighted a “lack of sharpness” and “creativity” in the squad’s recent displays, which failed to test opposing goalkeepers effectively.

Issues on Saturday began when Remeao Hutton’s mistake led to Crewe’s opening goal, compounded by Tracey’s efficient finish in the second half. Bonner lamented these lapses, stating, “Individual error gets punished… and then a second-half counter-attack.” He admitted, “We’re not in a position where we’re taking those moments or making enough of those moments ourselves.”

Despite deploying several attackers to chase the game, Bonner seemed frustrated by the squad’s lack of composure and decision-making in key areas. Observing their struggles, he remarked, “Do we cross at the right time? Do we play short or long at the wrong time? And we got in a mess in too many moments.”

Reflecting on the team’s need for significant improvement, Bonner acknowledged the effort put forth by his players but insisted it wasn’t enough to pose a substantial challenge, “It’s just not good enough in the attacking half of the pitch to cause the team a problem.”