Charlton boss Nigel Adkins gives his verdict on 1-1 draw at Gillingham

Charlton manager Nigel Adkins felt that his side paid the price for not taking their chances while they were on top in tonight’s 1-1 draw at Gillingham.

The Addicks were the better team in the opening 45 minutes and led through a first-half strike by Elliot Lee.

But Gillingham levelled in the second period when Kyle Dempsey’s effort came back off the right post and was deflected in by Ben Purrington.

Adkins said: “We couldn’ve been out of sight in the first half, we played some really good football and created some really good opportunities. Corey Blackett-Taylor’s skill and movement to get away from his marker to set up Elliot Lee for a very good finish was really good.

“We had several good opportunities and could’ve got the game won in that half. But then we had to show a different side and that resilience you need to come away with something. The goalkeeper has made two unbelievable saves towards the end. That little bit of fortune has not gone our way. The lads have shown a great spirit.

“You look in the second half when the ball is coming forward, and our two centre-halves were superb in the way they competed.

“It was Ben Purrington’s first game – delighted with that. Corey Blackett-Taylor – what a threat. He played for 90 minutes and we weren’t expecting him to get that much game time. It’s great we got Alex Gilbey back on the pitch, he was instrumental for us. Elliot Lee, between the lines, had a super game for us. Ben Watson just sat and managed to keep the game going for us, he had a super game.

“Josh Davison was brilliant for us, more than earned his start. He’s come off after running himself into the ground.

“It was a tough game. It must’ve been a really good game for the supporters to go and watch because it was end to end. Both sides were very committed.

“Unfortunately we’ve not got the victory but you can see there is a resilience and a spirit about the players which is very, very important.

“We brought a large group of players in just before the transfer window shut and we need to bed everyone down with the different levels of fitness they have got.

“It’s very challenging when the [Gillingham] goalkeeper is getting the ball and booting it the length of the pitch. You can’t stop the goalkeeper doing that, you’ve got to defend it. And they are very good at that. They get it forward, they win the first ball and you’ve got to land on the second ball.

“But there were spells [in the second half] where we managed to get on the ball and pass it. We had some really good opportunities in the second half when we passed it. Unfortunately we just didn’t get that second goal to we needed to win it.”

Asked if he saw the result as a step in the right direction, Adkins replied: “It is. The players are working their socks off for each other and you can see the amount of chances we created, especially in the first half. We could’ve won the game. It’s been a challenging period but you’ve got to be able to look at that performance, people coming back and people being introduced – there’s a lot of exciting things in store for us.”