Millwall 4 v Gills 0
Gills failed in their 21st attempt to win away this season culminating in a disastrous 4-0 thumping defeat at the hands of an in-form Millwall.
This is the fifth 4-goal beating Gills have suffered on the road and they were woeful from start to finish. Mark Stimson, as manager, chief selector and motivator must take the majority of the blame in what now is becoming an embarrassment and a League One joke as Gills continue to lose away from the comforts of home.
Gills did have an excuse of sorts losing both their central defenders, Darren Dennehy who suffered a facial injury, and within five minutes of the second half Garry Richards was stretchered off following a collision with Gills keeper Alan Julian.
Saturday 10 April - League Division One - Report by GillsConnect Man on the Terrace
The substitute defensive pairing of Josh Gowling and Mark Bentley were not a success and both second half goals were down to their lack of playing together.
In truth the Gills were lacking in attacking ideas, creative ability in midfield and a defensive unit that lacked cohesion. All in all, a relegation threatened outfit with little confidence away from the comforts of home.
This comfortable Millwall win put the Lions back into an automatic promotion spot and condemned a sorry Gills side to an anxious remaining five games to avoid the drop into Division Two.
The Lions were full on attacking their bemused opponents from the first minute and Chris Hackett should have opened the scoring within thirty seconds when he shot wide after being put through on goal.
Mark Stimson might have overdone his team talk about not letting Millwall dominate when Gills Adam Miller earned his quickest yellow card of the season in the fourth minute. This was for a very clumsy challenge on Jimmy Abdou and from the resulting free kick, Paul Robinson headed a great chance straight at Alan Julian.
Gills did have an early opportunity themselves when young Darren Dennehy headed just over the bar from a Danny Jackman corner.
Millwall were always looking the most likely to score and a beautiful cross was brought down and volleyed by the Lion’s winger Schofield but it was well saved by Alan Julian (above left).
Simeon Jackson had made a welcome return to the Gills front line but looked rusty and ineffective throughout and never looked like adding to his season’s goal tally although he did hit a great volley from the edge of the area which was clawed out by Forde.
It was no surprise when Millwall took the lead on 27 minutes. Liam Trotter picked out Schofield, who in turn fed Batt who ran through a static Gills defence shooting low into the bottom corner.
Ten minutes later and Millwall had effectively won the game when they went two up with a spectacular if somewhat fortunate goal. Craig unleashed a hard swerving volley that looked to be deflected from fully 20-yards. The swerving ball deceived Alan Julian and whipped past him into the back of the net.
Gills had a rare chance just before the break when they had a free kick on the edge of the area for a foul on Andy Barcham. Hours of training came to nothing as Adam Miller (right) smashed the ball straight at the wall and Andy Barcham volleyed the rebound harmlessly wide.
The second half saw the introduction from the Millwall subs bench of ex-Gill Neil Harris who always seems to do well against the Gills. If there was any doubt in the minds of Gills fans or Mark Stimson the result was put beyond Gills on the hour.
Schofield ran into the box, easily beat Josh Gowling before setting himself, picking his spot and firing past an exposed Alan Julian to make the score 3-0.
The fourth goal came on 70 minutes when a corner was flicked on by an unmarked Robinson for that man Neil Harris to nod the ball into an unguarded net from four yards.
Only a great reaction save from Alan Julian in time added on prevented Neil Harris (left) from scoring a fifth Millwall goal.
Millwall cruised along untroubled by Gills attacks and played keep ball for the remaining twenty minutes. Just as well, as they had the game won, a heavier defeat might have been on the cards if they had kept up a decent tempo.
The Gills were poor and with some really tough games coming up, the relegation fight will be going down to the wire, with Gills possibly looking for their first away win somewhere, anywhere, to avoid the drop into League Two.
Millwall: Forde, Smith, Craig, Abdou, Robinson, Ward, Schofield, Trotter, Batt, Morison, Hackett. Subs: Sullivan, Barron, Laird, Harris, Obika, Alexander and Frampton.
Gills: Alan Julian, Barry Fuller, John Nutter, Stuart Lewis, Garry Richards (Mark Bentley 50 minutes), Simeon Jackson, Andy Barcham, Adam Miller, Danny Jackman, Rene Howe (Kevin Maher 76 minutes), Darren Dennehy (Josh Gowling 46 minutes).
Unused Subs: Simon Royce, Chris Dickson, Dennis Oli, Curtis Weston.
Attendance: 13,174 (Gills fans 1,112)