Gillingham suffered their worst loss of the season under the lights at Priestfield. After going down 3-0 in the first 33 minutes, two goals in the second half from chasing MK Dons consigned them to their heaviest loss of the season.
Gillingham made two changes to the team who drew 1-1 with Fleetwood on Saturday as Sam Gale and Robbie McKenzie dropped out of the squad – presumably having picked up injuries. They were replaced by Jonny Williams and Aaron Rowe as Ainsworth’s lack of available centre-backs made him field a back four.
The Gillingham bench was notably weakened through injuries to several senior players. Louie Dayal and Michael Luxton from the under 18s were named as substitutes along with Nelson Khumbeni who has been sidelined through injury for months.
MK Dons made two changes as Gethin Jones and Liam Kelly came in for Aaron Nemane and Rushian Hepburn-Murphy.
Gillingham started the game brightly with some quick attacking play. Seb Palmer-Houlden had the first chance of the game as his right-footed shot from inside the area drew a good save from Craig MacGillivray.
MK Dons opened the scoring. Adam Collins made a run into the heart of the Gillingham penalty area. He was held up by Shad Ogie and Andy Smith, but the ball found its way to Dons skipper Alex Gilbey unmarked on the left. He calmly placed the ball to Turner’s right with his left foot.
There was a significant moment of refereeing controversy. Jonny Williams was fouled in the centre circle by Dan Crowley just as he was playing a through ball to Hale who looked to be onside and have a goalscoring opportunity. However, the referee blew for the foul, much to the frustration of the Gillingham faithful.
Gillingham then had a good period of possession in the Dons half, with Hale’s trickery deceiving their defence and giving Hutton a shot on goal, which was comfortably saved.
Unfortunately for the home side, MK Dons then doubled their lead. Ben Wiles played a cultured through ball to Gethin Jones who was in space on the right of the Gillingham goal. He slotted home into the far corner.
Turner made a good save from a Wiles shot low to his right as Gillingham endured more pressure from the Dons.
It was 3-0 by the 33rd minute. Liam Kelly took a free kick from ten yards outside of the Gillingham box. His looping ball found Marvin Ekpiteta at the far post, who comfortably headed the ball into the bottom left corner of the Gillingham Goal.
Euan Williams had a shot saved from outside the box as Gillingham tried to get back into the game.
Williams then linked up with his Jonny Williams, who had a shot from outside the box that went narrowly wide.
Hale went closest to scoring with a shot from an impossible angle to the left of the Dons’ box. Facing away from goal, he hit a volley with his right foot that went high and dipped inches away from creeping into the far corner.
As the first half drew to a close, Gilbey almost made it 4-0 with a thunderous shot from distance that rattled the Gillingham crossbar.
In the second half, MK Dons swiftly made it 4-0. In the 50th minute, Turner blocked a long-range effort, but could only parry the ball to Wiles, who shot with his right into the open net.
Ainsworth made some substitutions, bringing on Sam Vokes and Travis Akomeah for Hale and Remeao Hutton, shifting the formation to 3-5-2 to offer more solidity at the back.
The changes seemed to improve the Gillingham performance, with more attacking football deep in the Dons half. However, the visitors defended well.
Gillingham thought they had clawed a goal back as Jonny Williams’ free kick was headed into the MK Dons goal by Sam Vokes, but it was ruled out for offside.
Gillingham’s evening worsened when Ethan Coleman hobbled off injured and was replaced by 17-year-old Michael Luxton for his first senior cap.
Gillingham managed to pick up a consolation goal as Seb Palmer-Houlden bundles in a header following a block off the line.
MK Dons firmly shut the door on any hopes of a miraculous Gillingham revival as they scored their fifth goal. Wiles ran with the ball into the Gillingham area, then squared it left for Liam Kelly, who converted it low to Turner’s left.
The game ended scrappily, with Gillingham trying to salvage some dignity from the comprehensive defeat.
The boos from the Rainham end and chants of ‘sacked in the morning’ feel a world away from Gillingham’s zenith at the top of League Two in early September. The fans aren’t happy, the injuries keep mounting up, and the Gills seem to be staggering to the end of the season.
Ainsworth needs to find a way to rekindle the form and the atmosphere that he had early in the season. How he does that with the players available seems a mystery to me.
Gillingham: Turner, Hutton (Akomeah 55’), Clark (Cirino 69’), Smith, Coleman (Luxton 76’), J Williams, Rowe, Palmer-Houlden, E Williams (Khumbeni 69’), Ogie, Hale (Vokes 55’).
Subs Not Used: Morris, Dayal.
Goals: Palmer-Houlden 77’
Booked: Hale 44’, Rowe 60’ Cirino 90+5
MK Dons: MacGillivray, Jones (Nemane 89’), Kelly, Crowley (Hogan 45’), Gilbey, Collins (Evans 62’), Offord (Tomlinson 79’), Ekpiteta, Mellish, Wiles (Leko 89’), Sanders.
Subs Not Used: Trueman, Burke.
Goals: Gilbey 16’, Jones 26’, Ekpiteta 21’, Wiles 55’ Kelly 87’
Booked: Crowley 23’,
HT 0 – 3 FT 1 – 5
Att: 4706 (186)
Referee: Mr Harry Wager