Gillingham slipped to their first away League defeat of the season as their “Dons” jinx struck again as MK Dons lifted themselves off the foot of SKYBet League One courtesy of goals in each half at Stadium MK.
The home sides win was their fourth in five meetings against the Gills and ended the unbeaten away run that Steve Evans side had enjoyed since ironically, they met the “other” Dons – AFC Wimbledon – back in November.
Skipper Kyle Dempsey made a welcome return to the Gills midfield along with Scott Robertson in the two changes from the previous weeks 3-1 win over Oxford United at Priestfield with Josh Eccles dropping to the bench and Jacob Mellis missing out completely
The home side included new signing Cameron Jerome in their line up and it was the former Norwich and Derby striker who broke the deadlock on 19 minutes as he fired beyond Jack Bonham into the bottom corner.
Declan Drysdale had the Gills first real chance of note, but his shot was blocked before the visitors were relieved to see Carlton Morris shoot wide when well placed.
Robertson shot wide of the left post before Robertson fired over the bar from a Jordan Graham corner. Just before half time, Dominic Samuel had loud penalty appeals waved away after he was “fouled” by Dean Lewington, referee Hair didn’t agree and indeed gave the foul against the Gills striker.
Samuel came close to gaining some degree of revenge but was inches away from flicking home a Dempsey cross.
Sadly, the second half started disastrously for Evans side as Morris was given too much time and room and comfortably scored the home sides second past Bonham ninety seconds after the break.
Gills response was to introduce John Akinde from the bench (in place of Drysdale) and almost immediately Vadaine Oliver had a terrific chance but couldn’t convert as he shot inches wide, but the visitors were indebted to keeper Bonham for keeping them in the game as he pulled off a smart save to deny Scott Fraser.
Gillingham searched increasingly desperately for a way back into the game and Akinde went close with a header from Graham’s cross, before Bonham again came to the Gills rescue making another good save, this time to deny Joe Mason.
As time ticked by the visitors struggled to test home keeper Matt Nicholls with the closest chances coming from Graham’s free kick that was too high and Akinde’s header deep into stoppage time that was too high.
This will be a tough defeat for the Gills and manager Evans to take especially when you consider that they now face Portsmouth, Fleetwood, Ipswich and Sunderland in the next fourteen days.
MK DONS – Nicholls, Williams, Lewington, Keogh, Poole, Kasumu, Morris, Fraser (Houghton), Harvey, Thompson, Jerome (Mason)
Subs – Cargill, Gladwin, Walker, Sorenson, O’Hora
GILLINGHAM – Bonham, Jackson, Tucker, Medley, Ogilvie, Dempsey, Robertson (Eccles), Drysdale (Akinde), Graham, Oliver, Samuel (Coyle)
Subs – Walsh, Maghoma, McKenzie, Macdonald
REFEREE – Mr Hair
Image courtesy of Gillingham FC