EVANS STUNG BY LAMBERT ROW
STEVE Evans hit out at Ipswich boss Paul Lambert for making “alarming and concerning” comments to him during Gillingham’s defeat.
Gills boss Evans refused to be drawn on exactly what fellow Glaswegian Lambert allegedly said, but has reported it to referee Chris Sarginson and believes further action will be taken.
The two managers had a number of arguments throughout the 90 minutes, yet Evans – whose side were undone by Kane Vincent-Young’s 32nd-minute goal – insists that certain remarks made by his opposite number were beyond the pale.
“It was really alarming, really alarming,” said Evans afterwards. “You get tussles throughout each game – they’re differences of opinion and they go away. But that wasn’t what happened here.
“He [Lambert] said something rather concerning during the game; something that would concern somebody in the street, never mind a football manager trying to win a game.
“After nearly 1,000 matches as a manager that was the first time I’ve seen such behaviour.
“I spoke very politely to the fourth official and the referee noted it at half-time. He [Lambert] tried to put his arm around me and succumb me not to say anything further to the referee.
“I’ll leave it at that and let the referee do what he has to do.”
Evans also accused Lambert of intimidating 19-yearold defender Jack Tucker – who was making his first league start for the Gills.
“It’s not the main incident but you also don’t need to shout down a young man [Jack Tucker] making his debut, saying ‘you’re rubbish, son’ when he kicks one ball out of the park,” fumed Evans. “You don’t do that in this game.”
Right-back Vincent-Young met Kayden Jackson’s curling cross to head past a stranded Jack Bonham after 32 minutes and that was enough to send the Tractor Boys top of League One.
Midfielder Olly Lee missed the Gills’ best chances in a tight opening half, scuffing two shots wide from close range.
Tom O’Connor’s 20-yard volley on the half-hour mark landed on the roof of the net with the keeper beaten.
Ipswich captain Luke Chambers produced a brilliant last-ditch tackle to deny Alex Jakubiak in the Gills’ search for an equaliser, while Brandon Hanlan headed wide from substitute Ben Pringle’s corner.
Lambert said of the spat with Evans: “I just wished him happy birthday or something. It was Glasgow talk, you know. Put it this way: if I were a Gillingham supporter I would probably watch what is happening in the technical area. It’s really exciting when you’re the opposition manager.”