Gareth Ainsworth admitted late injuries disrupted Gillingham’s preparations but insisted they had enough chances to avoid an FA Cup shock.

The Gills boss was frustrated after his side conceded a 92nd-minute winner to the National League visitors in a 1-0 defeat at Priestfield, with Conor McManus, Bradley Dack and Tom Eaves all picking up injuries late in the week and Andy Smith also unavailable to start.

Despite the setbacks, Gillingham created enough chances to put the tie beyond reach in the first half and struck the post after the break, only to be punished by a late set-piece as Barrow booked their place in the second round.

Ainsworth was particularly unhappy with his side’s failure to take their chances and defend the decisive moment.

He said: “We should have put the game to bed in the first half. We had enough chances to win a couple of games in the first half and we have to be better, have got to be more clinical and we have been in the league.

“I thought first half we were probably far superior than Barrow with the way we played, but we have to convert our chances; I think if we get one, we get two or three.

“I’m gutted we've not produced at home again. I think there's a bit of pressure maybe felt there, but fair play to Barrow, they've come and done a job.

“I told the boys about set-pieces. I said we have to be absolutely spot on with set-pieces and we weren't in the last set piece of the game, and that's how they've got through.

“I'm big enough to take that loss, I'll be picking people out who haven't been good enough at certain things, but we've got to go again Tuesday [in the Jersey Mike’s Trophy], what more can we do?”

Ainsworth had warned his players that they faced a tough test against a Barrow side who had been in good form ahead of the weekend.

The Gills boss went strong with his team selection in a bid to avoid an FA Cup upset, and the hosts created plenty of opportunities in the opening half to leave him feeling confident.

But they could not maintain their threat after the break, with Barrow growing into the game before delivering the decisive blow in stoppage time.

“I was really confident,” Ainsworth said. “I just think a few more runs in behind would have been good in the second half, but we didn't seem to materialise and we didn't seem to hold the ball up as well we did in the first half.

“Barrow didn't really hurt as much until the 92nd minute; that was their minute, they had a header on goal, Ollie [Wright] makes a fantastic save and then the corner, which we warned them about and how the boy has come inside and got a shot from the edge of the box, it's just not great defending.

“We have to have a look at that, but I back the boys, my boys and I'll get the best out of these lot.”

Injuries continue to impact the Gills, with McManus, Dack and Eaves picking up injuries late in the week and defender Andy Smith also unable to start with a knock he’d been suffering from.

Ainsworth said: “I had a couple of last-minute alterations in the squad, which didn't help late on in the week.

“We had picked up a couple of injuries, which obviously just throws your preparation a little bit, and so then you're changing the team on a Friday, which is tough, but still we've got enough players out there; they're league players.

“We're playing a non-league side and we've got to make sure that we're good enough to beat them and take your chances because they don't come along all the time.

“I thought we were a bit less threatening in the second half, they dropped deep and they went to a big defensive block, and the way they were going to score was maybe on a counter-attack or a set-piece, a set-piece has undone us.

“We weren't good enough at our set-pieces, they were better than us at them, yeah, good luck to them, they go on and be in the hat for Monday, we've got to have to sit at home and watch it.”