Gillingham slumped to their third two nil reverse as Fleetwood Town repeated the wins of MK Dons and Portsmouth in the past week on a very strange day at a deserted Priestfield.
The fact that deserted stadia are becoming the new normal, the massive question marks that emerged about this fixture opens a completely new argument as to just how safe football is in these uncertain times.
With Fleetwood itself being in a Tier Three COVID restriction zone tough enough, their previous opponents Accrington Stanley returned ten positive tests after the sides midweek meeting and had to postpone their fixture on the same day. Yet despite all of that, the EFL failed to insist on Fleetwood carrying out any tests themselves and allowed the game to continue.
The Gills did their bit by moving the visitors “dressing room” to somewhere in the Gordon Road Stand whilst the two dug outs were even further apart than usual.
The whole episode left Gills boss Steve Evans fuming – and that was before he saw his side beaten for the third time in eight days as second half goals from Paddy Madden and Chad Evans saw Fleetwood tuck the points away.
Despite a much improved performance from the home side as John Akinde and sub Alex MacDonald both struck the word work and Dominic Samuel saw an effort magnificently saved by visiting keeper Jayson Leutwiler.
The home sides afternoon was topped off by the late dismissal of Connor Ogilvie to really add insult to injury!
Talking of which, the Gills boss made four changes to the side beaten by Portsmouth in midweek, with Declan Drysdale, Jacob Mellis, Vadaine Oliver and Christian Maghoma all missing out.
Zech Medley came into at left-back with Connor Ogilvie moving to the centre to partner Jack Tucker. Scott Robertson returned to the midfield, alongside Josh Eccles and Tommy O’Connor. Skipper Kyle Dempsey missed out on a game against his old club and John Akinde started in attack alongside Jordan Graham and Samuel.
The Gills made an encouraging start but lost Tom O’Connor to injury after just 24 minutes. The home side then created two very good chances – Samuel forcing Leutwiler into a terrific low save before Akinde beat the keeper with a shot but saw his effort rebound off a post.
The Gills were the better side undoubtedly and were unlucky not to be ahead at the break as Samuel’s header from Grahams cross was just too high!
The second half began with the Gills still on top and ten minutes in MacDonald crashed the ball against the underside of the bar after Graham had done brilliantly to round Leutwiler before brilliantly laying the ball back.
Unfortunately for the Gills the chance had gone and ten minutes later, the visitors took the lead when Callum Camps’ header came back off the bar for Madden to side foot home.
A massive blow this to the Gills, but another one soon arrived when Connor Ogilvie was shown a red card for a second yellow as the home side became increasingly desperate.
As they went forward more space came available behind them and it was little surprise when Evans broke away to make it two deep into stoppage time.
This game certainly posed more questions than it answered, but sadly most of them will be about the EFL’s handling of the fixture itself!
GILLINGHAM – Bonham, Jackson, Ogilvie, Tucker, Medley, O’Connor (MacDonald), Robertson (Willock), Eccles, Graham, Samuel (Coyle), Akinde.
Subs – Walsh, Maghoma, McKenzie, Woods.
FLEETWOOD TOWN – Leutwiler, Edwards, Mulgrew, Connolly, Andrew, Matete, Whelan, Finley (Duffy), Camps (Coutts), Madden, Saunders (Evans).
Subs – Cairns, Burns, Holgate, McKay.
REFEREE – Mr Busby