First-class Gills leave Rosler ranting...

THE postal service may be renowned for delays over the festive period but Gillingham delivered for Steve Lovell on Friday night, leaving Uwe Rosler to bemoan it was postmen against postboys at Highbury.

Fleetwood’s loss extended their run to one league win in their last 12 as early goals from Josh Parker and Luke O’Neill moved the Gills to within a point of their opponents.

Lovell’s men were left reeling from their FA Cup exit to Carlisle, but bounced back in fine style and left their manager with renewed hope.

“The performance was first class in the first half; it was quite the opposite from Tuesday where I said to the boys they should learn from that experience,” said the former Millwall man.

“You can’t start as sloppily as that so what is pleasing is they took on the advice, came out in the first half and controlled it with the two goals.

“In the second half we knew Fleetwood would get hold of the ball and try to play but we kept our shape and defensive discipline.”

Fleetwood’s early concessions were their third and fourth goals to be leaked in less than 20 minutes of football after they succumbed to late strikes from Peterborough last week.

And Rosler knows things must change if they are not to slip further down the table.

“After that first goal, the little confidence we had went out of the window. We were not competitive enough. It was inactive, men against boys,” said the German.

“At the moment, when we concede one we concede a second one quite quickly and we don’t have the knowhow and experience to get over the disappointment, to stabilise the ship for a few minutes.” Rosler admitted Fleetwood had prepared to deal with Gillingham’s threat down the right flank but they were still powerless to stop Scott Wagstaff ’s low cross into Parker, who turned neatly in the box before firing home. And one nearly became two soon after as Tom Eaves prodded home a rebound only to have it ruled out for offside.

But the second did come on 15 minutes as O’Neill’s angled effort from 25 yards bounced past Cairns’ dive and into the far corner.

Rosler brought on Jack Sowerby and Ashley Hunter for the second half and although the home side’s level did improve they failed to muster a shot on target, with Eaves having a second effort ruled out for offside.