If Gillingham ever needed reminding that they’re still in a relegation scrap and they’re not quite the finished article, it came at Priestfield on Tuesday night.
Gillingham slipped to their first home league defeat of 2023 – and just their second in their last nine games – as Bradford City showed their promotion credentials on a bitterly wintry night at Priestfield.
Goals either side of half time were enough to secure the points for Mark Hughes’ side, whilst Neil Harris was left with the challenge of lifting his troops for another important trip at the weekend to face the side immediately below them in the table, Harrogate Town.
Tim Dieng and Tom Nichols both missed out after injuries in Saturday’s win over AFC Wimbledon – Nichols was named amongst the substitutes – and Alex MacDonald missed out through illness.
Dom Jeffries shot straight at the keeper early on whilst Glenn Morris was equal to Dara Costelloes’ attempt as the game settled down.
David Tutonda fired over just before the half hour and just before the visitors took the lead. Richie Smallwood was on hand to score from the tightest of angles as the Gills momentarily switched off. And but for a fine save in stoppage time when Morris superbly denied Jamie Walker, the Bantams would have doubled their advantage.
They did however just after the break as Andy Cook netted his fifth goal in six games as he brilliantly beat the advancing Morris with some aplomb, to net his 18th goal of the season which in context is only three fewer than the Gills whole team has managed!
The home side, backed by nearly 6,000 of the faithful, did their utmost to get back into the game. George Lapslie’s looping header nearly dropped over keeper Harry Lewis, but the keeper got just enough of a touch to clear the bar. The following corner caused mayhem in the Bradford box as the ball was sliced wide by defender for another corner that came to nothing.
Aiden O’Brien was inches away from his first goal for the club as a glancing header flashed wide of Lewis’ post with the keeper beaten, whilst late on Morris did well to deny Costelloe and then Cook as the Gills looked for a way back into the game which sadly they didn’t find.
Despite the defeat, The Gills remain 20th in League Two, still some seven points clear of the relegation zone.
With trips to Harrogate and Stockport County to come on Saturday and next Tuesday, Neil Harris’ side will be hoping they can pick something up on the road before returning to Priestfield to face a determined Tranmere Rovers side on Saturday 11th March.
Gillingham: Morris, Alexander, Ehmer, Masterson, Tutonda, Williams (Coleman 71), Jefferies (Adelakun 71), O’Keefe (Nichols 55), Lapslie, Hawkins (Abrahams 87), O’Brien.
Subs not used: Turner, Wright, Gbode.
Booked: Tutonda (66), Lapslie (94).
Bradford City: Lewis, Halliday, Platt, Stubbs, Ridehalgh, Gilliead (Osadebe 82), Clayton, Smallwood, Walker (Crichlow 71), Costelloe (Banks 90), Cook.
Subs not used: Doyle, East, Chapman, Kelly.
Goals: Smallwood (27), Cook (49).
Booked: Platt (52).
Referee: Alan Young
Attendance: 6276 (363 Bradford)