It wasn’t the birthday present that Steve Evans wanted from his side as in horrendous conditions the manager watched on as his side were beaten for a fifth time in a row as Sunderland won an eventful game at Priestfield.

It really wasn’t Evans’ day as the manager saw his side goal-less for a fifth consecutive game and miss a penalty – Jordan Graham’s second half spot kick was magnificently saved by Black Cats keeper Lee Burge before insult was well and truly added to injury as just moments later – and for the third time this season – the Gills finished a home game with ten men as Alex Macdonald saw red. Sadly, the ten men couldn’t hang as the visitors netted twice in the last ten minutes to condemn the Gills to defeat!

Injuries again meant Evans made changes to the side that lost at Ipswich – keeper Jack Bonham missed out with concussion (QPR loanee Joe Lumley deputised); John Akinde’s back spasms saw his drop to the bench as Vadaine Oliver replaced him, whilst Chris Maghoma dropped to the substitutes too with Connor Ogilvie – who netted the corresponding fixtures winner last Christmas so gloriously at Priestfield – returning from suspension.

The Gills started so well with Dominic Samuel and Oliver going agonisingly close to breaking their scoring drought but sadly their respective shots missed the target. The visitors thought they’d grabbed the lead when Luke O’Nien’s flying header was ruled out just before the half hour of a rough tough but highly enjoyable opening half.

But it was in the second period that saw the action both good and bad for the home side, as after a quite opening, the half exploded into life when Ryan Jackson was floored by Tom Flanagan and referee Purkiss pointed to the spot. Graham duly stepped up after his successes earlier in the season, but Burge guessed right and blocked the kick. Sadly, for the Gills, although Samuel was first to react, his rebound bounced into the Rainham End.

If that wasn’t bad enough, the Gills soon found themselves down to ten men as MacDonald saw red for a challenge on O’Nien which sparked a flare up between other players and one that infuriated Evans, who later admitted that the midfielder had let his side down!

The red card forced the Gills onto the back foot and Sunderland went looking for the win but the Gillingham back line held firm superbly – Jack Tucker made a great block form Aiden O’Brien, before Lumley made a sensational save to deny Charlie Wyke – somehow the loanee keeper managed to tip over the Sunderland mans near post effort.

The resistance was finally broken however eight minutes from time when Zech Medley was harshly but rightly adjudged to have fouled Wyke, and substitute Chris Maguire, who’d only just entered the fray, duly sent Lumley the wrong way from the spot.

The Gills misery was completed in stoppage time when Lynden Gooch raced clear to fire through Lumley to secure the Black Cats triumph and condemn the manager to a fifth successive defeat for the first time in his illustrious career.

All in all it was a birthday weekend that the manager won’t want to remember in a hurry as his side now prepare to make the long trip North on Tuesday to face Crewe Alexandra where an old boy will be waiting to face his former side…

GILLINGHAM – Lumley; Jackson, Tucker, Ogilvie, Medley, Dempsey, McKenzie, MacDonald; Graham (Coyle), Samuel (Robertson), Oliver (Akinde)

Subs – Walsh, Maghoma, Drysdale, Willock

SUNDERLAND – Burge, McLaughlin, Flanagan, Wright, Wyke, O’Brien (Graham), Gooch, O’Nien, Scowen (Maguire), Leadbitter, Hume.

Subs – Matthews, Power, Sanderson, Diamond, Grigg.

REFEREE – Mr Purkiss