Despite a late goal from substitute Oli Hawkins offering a brief glimmer of hope, Gillingham lost the Carabao Cup tie 3-1, failing to force a penalty shoot-out.
“There are no real complaints about the red card,” Bonner stated. “At the time, it seemed a bit reckless. Although it was low, his studs were showing, and when you dive in with your studs exposed, you risk giving the referee a decision to make.”
Bonner emphasized the need for Williams to learn quickly, noting that the red card not only made the night more challenging but would also impact his availability for future games.
It was a difficult evening for Bonner’s Gillingham team, who faced a dominant Championship side. Swansea controlled the game, creating numerous chances and making the match increasingly difficult after the sending-off.
“The game was as tough as we anticipated and became even harder with the red card,” Bonner admitted. “We knew we would be up against a team that controls possession, so our defensive work had to be exceptional.”
He added, “We were too respectful in the early stages, missing opportunities to disrupt their play and win the ball back. Although we improved as the first half progressed, our periods of possession were too inconsistent.”
Bonner and his team made some adjustments at halftime, hoping for a positive impact, but the red card occurred soon after, making the challenge even greater. Despite the adversity, Gillingham managed to score late and almost forced a penalty shoot-out.
Young Gillingham player Alex Giles made his first start at right-back due to Remeao Hutton’s illness, facing a difficult task against Swansea’s wingers.
“It was a tough debut for Alex against high-quality opponents,” Bonner said. “Remeao was supposed to play but fell ill, so Alex stepped in. It was a challenging game for him, but a valuable learning experience against top-level competition.”
Bonner concluded that for many young players, such high-level exposure provides a crucial lesson in their development, even if the debut was difficult.
