Gillingham 0 Portsmouth 2: Neil Allen's verdict - Perfect reaction from under-fire Blues to return to winning ways with conviction

Kenny Jackett doesn’t lose successive league matches – and it proved to be the case once again.
John Marquis, a former Gillingham player, opened the scoring in the 14th minute at the Priestfield Stadium. Picture: Nigel Keene/ProSportsImagesJohn Marquis, a former Gillingham player, opened the scoring in the 14th minute at the Priestfield Stadium. Picture: Nigel Keene/ProSportsImages
John Marquis, a former Gillingham player, opened the scoring in the 14th minute at the Priestfield Stadium. Picture: Nigel Keene/ProSportsImages

The Blues were rightly questioned following their Doncaster defeat as the uninspiring start to the season limped on.

However, the manager who has been victorious in comfortably more than half his Pompey games in charge, was swiftly back to winning ways at the Priestfield Stadium.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The reaction of the heavily under-fire boss’ side was crucial – and didn’t his players respond magnificently against Gillingham.

A burst of two goals in the opening 17 minutes was even to apply a stranglehold on the game which Pompey never looked like releasing.

Granted, there were the occasional nervy moments while defending set-pieces, as expected from a well-drilled Steve Evans side.

But largely the visitors were in control and should have registered a scoreline even more handsome than the 2-0 they achieved.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Reverting to the 4-4-2 employed against Burton and Mk Dons, this time Marcus Harness operating off the recalled John Marquis, the creative buzz was restored.

Ryan Williams was magnificent on the right wing, Harness in irresistible form, while Sean Raggett was a colossus in the air and Tom Naylor enjoyed a fine game.

Marquis’ and Michael Jacobs’ goals – three minutes apart – laid the foundations for a third straight away win and lift some of the gloom.

There remain calls for Jackett’s head, yet there remains fight in this group of players, who responded in excellent fashion against the Gills.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Jackett made three changes to the side which performed so unsatisfactorily in Saturday’s defeat to Doncaster.

With Ellis Harrison out for up to three weeks with a hamstring tear, John Marquis was the inevitable replacement, particularly as the only other senior striker at the club.

In addition, Ryan Williams and Michael Jacobs were granted recalls, coming in for Ronan Curtis and Ben Close, who both dropped to the bench.

It would have been a disappointment for Close in particular, having returned to the side on Saturday for his first league start since March and put in a decent display.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Also among the substitutes was teenage striker Alfie Stanley, who has been on loan at the Rocks, appearing for them in the Isthmian League on Saturday.

He featured for 17 minutes off the bench for Jack Pearce’s side in a 4-0 victory over East Thurrock United.

The 18-year-old was previously involved with the first-team as an unused substitute at Stevenage in the Carabao Cup on the opening day of the season.

When the match got underway, Gillingham almost put through their own net inside the opening two minutes.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

A wonderful ball inside the full-back by Tom Naylor put Williams free down the right and his pull back was slid past the post by Declan Drysdale.

For a second, it looked as though the intervention was going to enter the net, instead it resulted in a Pompey corner.

On six minutes, Marquis conceded a free-kick just inside the Blues’ half and Tom O’Connor’s delivery almost caught Craig MacGillivray off-guard.

Carried by the wind, it drifted just wide of the left-hand post, with the keeper expecting it to be struck in the opposite direction.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Another Gills free-kick, this time given away by Williams on the edge of the Pompey penalty area, was struck by Jacob Mellis straight at MacGillivray.

In the 12th minutes, there were appeals centred on keeper Jack Bonham potentially handling outside his area as he gathered Sean Raggett long ball down the left.

Referee David Rock was not convinced, indicating he was in-line with the incident and saw it perfectly with his eyes amid muted protests from the visitors.

The deadlock was broken on 14 minutes - and it was through Marquis.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The ball was slipped to the striker from the right, who embarked on a run across the penalty area before driving in a left-footed finish into the far bottom corner of the net.

It was the visitors’ first attempt on goal and Gillingham will surely be asking questions why Marquis hadn’t been challenged and allowed to produce a shot.

Within three minutes, the Blues had doubled their attack through a potent counter-attack led by Jacobs.

A clearance was picked up by the former Wigan man who charged upfield, beat the last defender and, although appeared to be clipped, still managed to shoot as he fell.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

It was enough to beat Bonham and suddenly the Blues possessed a two-goal lead inside the opening 17 minutes.

Vadaine Oliver had a good chance to threaten Pompey’s goal on 32 minutes from Jordan Graham’s free-kick from the left, however he sent his header drifting over the bar.

With half-time approaching, Oliver did well to hold the ball up and lay it off to Graham, but his team-mate lashed it wide of the far post.

It represented the Gills’ best chance of the half so far and really the attacker should have done far better.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

At the other end, on 42 minutes, Williams’ cross from the right was met with a stooping header from Naylor, which crashed against the inside of the far post and bounced clear.

There were no substitutions at the break and, within four minutes of the restart, Pompey came close to grabbing another.

Jacobs produced a wonderful turn to cut inside the penalty area from the right and when his shot was pushed out by the keeper, Williams’ follow-up effort was deflected wide of an open goal.

It was unfortunate for the Australian, who was enjoying a fine game and deserved more.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Moments later, Harness broke down the right and his pull back was met first time by Jacobs, who blazed a right-footed shot over.

Gillingham made their first substitution of the night on 55 minutes, with Dominic Samuel replaced by former Pompey striker John Akinde.

Lee Brown was almost embarrassed when a cross came in from the left and he attempted to cushion a header back to his keeper.

However, he applied a little too much power to it, the ball shooting past a diving MacGillivray and out for a corner.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

On 68 minutes, Marquis really should have made it 3-0 after a sublime cross from the right from Williams.

However, the goalscorer rose to plant a comfortable header wide of the near post and spare the Gills further anguish.

Pompey missed another chance when Ryan Jackson misjudged the bouncing ball to put Harness clean through, yet his shot was saved by the feet of the keeper.

Jackett made a double substitution on 74 minutes, with Harness and Cannon replaced by Close and Curtis.

Late on MacGillivray made a fine save, while the Blues were challenged from set-pieces, but the return to willing ways was secure.

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.