GILLINGHAM boss Steve Lovell was left rueing ‘three minutes of madness’ following his side’s 2-0 defeat against Southend United.

Two Simon Cox goals in quick succession at the start of the second half saw the Shrimpers secure all three points at the Priestfield Stadium.

And Lovell was disappointed Gills did not make more of their own period of pressure.

“In the first-half we had the majority of it and created chances with our set plays but didn’t finish them off,” said Lovell.

“They took their chances brilliantly and that was the difference.

“Simon Cox was a thorn in our side, again.

“We knew he would cause us problems and we didn’t get close enough to him.

“This League is all about taking your opportunities when they come and I thought we gave them two goals.

“We created a few little things at the end and we didn’t drop our heads but it wasn’t our day.

“Two goals and three minutes of madness cost us the game and I’m just so disappointed.”

The defeat came seven days after Gills’ shock 2-0 win at table-topping Portsmouth.

And Lovell felt the Kent club - who remain 19th in the standings - ultimately paid the price for not all of his players being at their best.

“When they’re all doing it we can get results,” said Lovell.

“But if you asked everybody in the stadium who had an off day they would say there were probably two or three players who weren’t at their best.

“When that’s the case then you aren’t going to win games.”