Gillingham head coach Stephen Clemence conceded Sheffield United were worthy winners on Saturday but couldn’t help wonder ‘what if?’
The Gills missed a golden early moment when Conor Masterson had a chance at nil-nil, Dom Jefferies had a goal ruled out when one down and Max Ehmer hit the post with a header with plenty of time left when 2-0 behind.
Report: Gillingham 0 Sheffield United 4
Premier League Sheffield United were 2-0 up at the break and scored twice late on to complete a big scoreline.
“I’m really proud of the majority of the work the boys did,” said head coach Clemence.
“I thought at nil nil we had some good moments where we probably needed to take one of them, unfortunately we didn’t.
“I felt for their first goal we were on the attack and felt there was chance we could have scored but then we saw the blistering pace of a Premier league team on the counter against you and they go 1-0 ahead.
“I’m probably a bit disappointed about the goals that we conceded, I wouldnt like to concede them in League 2, I think the boys will be disappointed with them as well and I mentioned that to them in the dressing room.
“I said at half-time (at 2-0 down) I felt we still had a real chance in the game and felt we were creating moments where we could score against them and then you never know.
“Max Ehmer hits the post on 73 minutes and if that goes in I think the place would have erupted. You never know what could have happened. It would have been interesting but it was not meant to be.
“I have looked back at when Dom Jefferies scores an offside goal at 0-0 and it’s very close. On another day that might be given.
“Conor did excellent (for his chance) and there was a bit of combination play, he feigned to shoot and then checked back on his left foot and he probably didn’t catch it as well as he can, but it was great play before that. We needed something like that to go in, but of course it didn’t.
“It is what it is, we move on and I am proud of the boys and proud of the way they have applied themselves and I am proud that they did try and make an impact in the game.
“I know at times we had to sit there and weather a storm and weather attacks and when we did win it I felt we tried to go and score and run forward, dribble forward and pass forward and on another day we could have got a couple of goals.
“Sheffield United were worthy winners and good luck to them in the next round.”
