Callum Reilly scored and was later sent off as Gillingham battled their way to victory over struggling Bristol Rovers at the Memorial Stadium.

The visitors took an eighth-minute lead when, with Rovers appealing for offside earlier in the move, Elliott List was allowed space to move forward and fire home with a low 20-yard drive.

Just minutes later and Steve Lovell was forced into an early change with Gabriel Zakuani hobbling off, meaning Connor Oglivie slid across to partner Max Ehmer with Bradley Garmston coming on at left back.

Callum Reilly doubled Gillingham’s advantage after 59 minutes, moving on to a pass from Tom Eaves and drilling a shot from 25 yards that beat Rovers’ substitute goalkeeper Adam Smith.

Liam Sercombe reduced the arrears with a sweet free-kick from 30 yards in the 87th minute and came close to an equaliser during eight minutes of stoppage time, volleying against a post.

Reilly’s red card came after 70 minutes when he dived into a challenge on Sercombe in the middle of the pitch.

Smith was a 49th-minute replacement for Jack Bonham after the Rovers goalkeeper had gone down injured with nobody near him.

The victory lifts The Gills to 18th place in League One, four points above the relegation zone and can now switch their attention to the FA Cup 2nd Round clash at Slough Town on Sunday afternoon.

 

Bristol Rovers line up: Bonham (Smith 49), Lockyer, Martin, Craig, Sercombe, Nichols, Lines, Partington, Bennett, Sinclair (Matthews 69), Rodman (Payne H/T).

Subs not used: Leadbitter, Upson, Clarke, Reilly.

Goal: Sercombe (87).

Gillingham line up: Holy, Fuller, Ogilvie, Ehmer, Zakuani (Garmston 15), Oldaker (Bingham 83), Reilly, Byrne, Parker, List (O’Neill 82), Eaves.

Subs not used: Hadler, Mbo, Rees, Hanlan.

Goals: List (8), Reilly (59).

Booked: Parker (74), Holy (96).

Sent Off: Reilly (70).

Referee: Mr Ollie Yates.

Attendance: 6,583 (192 Gills)