GILLINGHAM boss Mark Bonner felt frustrated to leave Valley Parade empty-handed.

The Kent side’s slump continued with a fourth straight loss yesterday despite scoring first against City.

Bonner thought his side deserved more after taking the lead through Jayden Clarke.

“It was an evenly-balanced game and we were excellent in the first 25-30 minutes,” he said. “We started well, scored a great goal and had one or two moments very similar to that.

“We were really pleased with the intent in the early part of the game. We picked a big, physical team to make ourselves as robust as possible.

“It was a good, aggressive English football match. There weren’t many bad tackles but there seemed to be a shed-load of yellow cards which was a bit crazy.

“That just lost the rhythm of the game and the first half became more emotional than it needed to be from some erratic decisions.

“We are fuming with ourselves about the goals we conceded. When we’re as big as we are, we shouldn’t fall behind to goals like that.

“It’s usually a strength of ours so we’re really frustrated we haven’t been able to see those moments out.”

Bonner admitted City’s back three did a good job in shackling target man Oli Hawkins.

“We played with a direct starting point with Hawks but he didn’t get much change out of the centre halves.

“They’ve got three big centre backs and two or three mark him and get hold of him. It’s really hard for him to have a real impact.”

Gillingham had begun October as League Two leaders but now sit below the Bantams as their current slump continues. Bonner urged his players to ignore the growing criticism over their poor run.

“It’s no disgrace coming and losing narrowly at Bradford City. At the same time, we’re definitely not patting ourselves on the back for being hard working, committed and being together.

“We’re not satisfied with the outcome of the game and running them close.

“But I have to protect the team all the time. The whole world will go crazy and we have to not listen to that at all.

“We’ve got some good players and showed that three or four weeks ago with loads of good results.

“We weren’t as good as everyone thought we were and we’re nowhere near as bad now as everyone will be saying we are.

“I don’t live online but I know it’s there. People will love you when you win four on the bounce and sometimes hate you when you’re four in defeat.

“That’s just the nature of it. We don’t want to be in this situation.”