GILLINGHAM boss Steve Evans admitted the Priestfield pitch was not at its best but rejected suggestions it had been done deliberately to hinder Oxford United.

U's head coach Karl Robinson was critical of the playing surface after Saturday's 1-1 draw in Kent.

He felt it had been a ploy to make it difficult for the visitors to pass the ball at their normal tempo.

Evans agreed the turf was not ideal, but rejected the point it was something the hosts had wanted.

He told Kent Online: "The grass wasn't long, it was just that the pitch isn't the best and we know that, but there are a lot of factors for that one.

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"We are not knocking anyone though, because everyone works hard.

"He wasn't right to have said we did it deliberately but then Karl said they dominated the second half.

I thought Karl's head was 80 per cent of the time looking towards the Rainham End where we were attacking in the second half.

"The pitch just isn't in the condition that it should be but he didn't mention that to me."