Gillingham’s cup adventures are over for another season but not before a former Premier League Champion and watching thousands on terrestrial TV were left wondering just how Neil Harris’ side are currently bottom of the Football League.
In the end it was a solitary goal from Nigerian international Kelechi Iheanacho that was enough to dump the Gills out of the Cup, but the spirit, desire, passion and self-belief that those in blue displayed must have given the Priestfield faithful – that included new club owner Brad Gallinson – enormous heart and hope for the battle that lies ahead.
Harris has emphasised that this was a day to enjoy before the massive League games coming in next few weeks and his players certainly took their manager’s words to the next level as they made the former Champions of England and of course Cup winners just two years ago work for every inch of the Foxes’ progress into Round Four.
The Gills have been slow out of the blocks on several occasions this season but could have easily had an early lead when Dom Jeffries forced Leicester keeper Daniel Iversen into a superb low save, with the ball going the wrong side of Scott Kashket on the rebound.
Leicester were made to work for their room and for long periods Jake Turner’s goal was superbly protected by the Gills back line which were keeping Jamie Vardy and Iheanacho at arm’s length as the home side grew more and more into the game and in truth the clearest chance the Premier League side made was on the stroke of half time when Iheanacho curled a shot into the Rainham End.
After the break Leicester asserted themselves far better and were almost in front within minutes of the restart when Turner pulled off a fine back pedalling save to keep out a Marc Albrighton’s effort before on fifty-six minutes, the goal that was to win the tie arrived.
Kasey McAteer’s driven centre took Turner out of the equation but as the ball ricocheted off of Vardy, it sat up so invitingly for his strike partner that the Nigerian couldn’t miss and sadly for the Gills didn’t!
The home side could have buckled but they kept their toes in the game and Hakeeb Adelakun forced Iverson into an awkward save with a low drive that caused the keeper trouble by taking a horrible bounce just in front of him.
Vardy was then denied magnificently by Turner before being replaced and the man who did – Patson Daka – went even closer in the dying moments as the Gills pushed on as he slid in at the back post but just couldn’t reach a driven cross.
So, for the third time this season, Gillingham have taken a Premier League side to the very limits, and surely given a true signal to those who will return in seven days time for the now vital League Two game against Hartlepool United, that there is hope and belief that Kent will retain our only Football League side.
Tom Nicholls will be unleashed in Gillingham blue for the very first time and the question must be how many more fresh faces and new hope will follow…
But this was the end of this particular Cup fairy tale – just the twenty-three “Cup Finals” left now in this remarkable season…
GILLINGHAM – Turner, Alexander (Harriott 79), Wright, Ehmer, McKenzie, Tutonda (Mandron 85), MacDonald, Jefferies (O’Keefe 70), Williams, Adelakun, Kashket.
Subs not used – Holtam, Law, Lee.
LEICESTER CITY – Iversen, Albrighton, Soyuncu, Vestergaard, McAteer (Thomas 85), Tielemans, Mendy (Ndidi 81), Brunt, Perez, Vardy (Daka 81), Iheanacho.
Subs not used – Smithies, Faes, Barnes, Amartery, Castagne, Braybrooke.
Goal: Iheanacho (56).
REFEREE – Mr Samuel Barrott
Attendance: 8567