Mixed emotions for Richardson

Birmingham manager Lee Clark criticised his side's inconsistencies after their dramatic 3-2 defeat at Derby.

The visitors twice came from behind to level, firstly through a Marlon King penalty and then a Peter Lovenkrands strike with eight minutes left, but immediately conceded a Derby winner to Nathan Tyson.

Clark said in the aftermath: "I thought our second half performance warranted something but our first-half performance didn't. It's a good summary of our season really, it's a Jekyll and Hyde performance in one game.

"It's been like that game to game for us. We've played well in one game and the next it doesn't look the same team but we had it in one game tonight.

"The first half wasn't our true identity but the second half was. I said to the players at the end that if we play like that from the first whistle and don't allow the opposition to get momentum and get on the front foot, we will get a result.

"I don't want to make excuses but facts are facts. The first goal was offside, that's a fact and the second goal, Marlon King has been fouled on the edge of the box. I've seen the incidents again and that's what happened."

Myles Weston had given the Gills a 42nd-minute lead at the Crown Ground on Saturday but Padraig Amond was caught by goalkeeper Stuart Nelson seconds after coming on as a second-half substitute, Nelson saw red and sub 'keeper Tommy Forecast's first job a minute later was to pick James Beattie's spot-kick out of his net.

"The result was a great result away from home," said Gillingham boss Allen, who will now be without Nelson for the Gills' FA Cup clash at Preston next weekend.

"The team gave everything, it was difficult in wet and windy conditions.

"We restricted the opposition, I am not sure about the sending-off as I was too far away but, with 10 men, we were still pushing at the end.

"It's a hard place to come, I have come here a few times with other teams and been spanked and it's been horrendous but we showed commitment and we have competed well.

"I thought for 70 minutes we were in control and they had possession but didn't get near our goal. Then they had a mad 10 minutes but we regrouped and near the end, even with 10 men, we looked like scoring but it's a hard place to come so we take a point."

Substitute Jeff Goulding scored the game's only goal 10 minutes from time at Whaddon Road on Saturday but Howarth admitted it was former Barnet midfielder Sam Deering who helped secure the points.

The struggling visitors were awarded a penalty for handball midway through the second half but Robins keeper Scott Brown went the right way and palmed away Mark Byrne's spot kick.

"It was an excellent save [from the penalty] and the kid took it well," Howarth admitted.

"Sam Deering in the dugout knows where he normally puts them and we managed to get a message out. It was a good save. I couldn't see if it was handball or not, it was one of those where I would be certain it wasn't a deliberate handball. I thought we had one at the other end that the linesman gave but the ref overruled.

"It was a tough game, coming off the back of two defeats and two poor performances on our behalf. Being back at home and playing a team at the bottom of the league is a tough ask when your confidence levels can be a little bit low.

"I thought we did all the pressing for the majority of the game. We just didn't test the keeper enough and couldn't get the goals we wanted to make the game safe. Jeff came on and scored a great goal and when that went in I felt we could go on and win it. He's a very talented player, he's a big strong lad. To see the shot was on and to execute it like he did was every credit to him."

Substitute Jeff Goulding scored the game's only goal 10 minutes from time at Whaddon Road but Cheltenham assistant manager Neil Howarth admitted it was former Barnet midfielder Sam Deering who helped secure the points.

The struggling visitors were awarded a penalty for handball midway through the second half but Robins keeper Scott Brown went the right way and palmed away Mark Byrne's spot kick.

Davids said: "We have to take the defeat on the chin and try and play better next time. We have played against a top side and you only have to slide a little bit and you can see why they are a good side.

"You can see positives but you also have to see your own mistakes and have to work on them because at the end of the day they are getting a bit annoying.

"There were little chances which we should have done better with. Everyone plays a lot of football in this league and the top side can lose against the bottom club - it is a very close league. That's the romantic side of this league and that's why I love it and don't underestimate it."

Myles Weston had given the Gills a 42nd-minute lead at the Crown Ground but Padraig Amond was caught by goalkeeper Stuart Nelson seconds after coming on as a second-half substitute, Nelson saw red and sub 'keeper Tommy Forecast's first job a minute later was to pick James Beattie's spot-kick out of his net.

"In one aspect, it's a point gained against the league leaders and them having a half-time lead but, with how we played in the second half, you could say it was two points dropped," boss Richardson said.

"In the first half both teams cancelled each other out and we were disappointed to concede like we did as we had worked hard on stopping Gillingham playing like we know they can.

"We improved after the break, we had a good talk at half-time and the lads came out buoyant and every single player gave 100%.

"You can obviously take confidence by pushing the top-of-the-league team so close and James Beattie has played at a high level, so we have every confidence with him on penalties."