It wasn’t Conor Masterson’s night on Tuesday but the Gillingham head coach knows his defender will bounce back from the disappointment.
Masterson had six forgettable minutes at Wimbledon as the game quickly turned in the home side’s favour.
More: Clemence proud of 10-man performance
Central defender Masterson was beaten to the ball by Omar Bugiel as Wimbledon went 1-0 up on 33 minutes and then picked up a booking on 36 minutes for a rash challenge on Armani Little – a lunge that led to calls from home fans for referee Thomas Kirk to show a straight red.
A clear tug of John-Kymani Gordon’s shirt two minutes later led to another caution and the end of his evening.
The Gills battled hard to get back into the game with 10 men but Bugiel added a second and only a few top saves from keeper Glenn Morris prevented them from adding further goals.
Clemence, speaking about Masterson’s dismissal, said: “It was spoken about in the dressing room and we move on from it.
“Conor has saved us on a number of occasions and he’s been a big, big player in the team.
“He wouldn’t be happy with what he did and I’m not either but people make mistakes and that’s what it’s been. We have to move on from it.”
Masterson had been a mainstay at the back for the Gills as he’s helped pick up plenty of clean sheets this term and with six goals – including the equaliser at the weekend – he’s the leading scorer.
Clemence said: “Football is an emotional game and sometimes you do things in the heat of the moment which you can instantly regret, I have been there myself, I think that’s what’s happened but he will bounce back from it.
“It is now an opportunity for someone else at the weekend.”
Masterson’s sending off – his first in senior football – means he serves an immediate one-game ban and will miss the home game against Grimsby Town this Saturday.
It’s only the second red card for the Gills this season after Ethan Coleman was sent off in the 3-0 home defeat against Colchester United in late August.
