Ipswich Town manager Paul Lambert has described comments made by Steve Evans following the Tractor Boys visit to Gillingham this weekend as “disgraceful” and “a load of lies”.
In a very competitive match played in front of over 7,000 fans, the managers had a few choice words for each other throughout the contest but Paul Lambert has taken exception to suggestions that he was out of order, something Steve Evans has alleged.
Speaking after the game, the Gillingham manager told Kent Online:
“He said something rather concerning, during the game.
“I spoke very politely to the fourth official and the referee noted it at half-time.
“He tried to put his arm around me and asked that I wouldn’t say anything further to the referee.
“He doesn’t need to come and talk to me (after the final whistle). After what he said during the game in the first half. It was really alarming.
“Lots gets said between benches. Every week, there will have been tussles (between benches) at Lincoln and Oxford, tussles at Doncaster and Peterborough, there are differences of opinion, that is all it is and then it goes away. Not what happened today.
“But we will let the referee and people that need to know deal with that. They are aware.”
“He said something that would concern someone in the street, never mind a professional football manager trying to win a game,” the Gills boss added.
“I will leave it at that and leave the referee to do what he has to do.”
Impressive young full-back Jack Tucker was making his first start for the Gills after impressing off the bench at Bristol Rovers on Tuesday night. Steve Evans was not happy with a comment directed towards the 19-year-old he claimed was made by the Ipswich boss.
“You don’t do that in this game, do you? You don’t need to shout at a young man making his debut, ‘you’re rubbish son’ when he kicks one ball out of the park.”
Lambert has made a strong response to the claims, telling the media that they are untrue and without substance.
🗣 “I have seen Steve Evans’ comments and they are disgraceful and a load of lies. The abuse that was coming from their bench was vile."
Town boss Paul Lambert has hit back at comments from the Gillingham boss after today's 1-0 win. #itfc
— Ipswich Town FC (@IpswichTown) September 21, 2019
“I have seen Steve Evans’ comments and they are disgraceful and a load of lies.
“The abuse that was coming from their bench was vile.
“I have worked in the Premier League and I’m competitive and gone up against some great managers but I have always shown total respect throughout my career.
“I went to shake hands with Steve Evans at the end of the game and his assistant but they waved me away. That’s up to them but it shows a lack of respect and it’s not how I play the game.
“As for saying I spoke to one of the players the way he has suggested, complete rubbish and lies. I would never talk to a player like that. I went around saying ‘well played’ to their players after the game.
“What’s been said by Steve Evans is a disgrace and what I and my assistant Stuart Taylor had to put up with on the touchline was a disgrace as well.”
It remains to be seen whether the referee, Chris Sarginson, will take any further action against either manager with much depending on what is contained in his report. Gillingham travel to Oxford next weekend while the Tractor Boys host Tranmere Rovers.