Delighted Gillingham boss Mark Bonner saluted his table-topping side as they clung on to beat Chesterfield with a 1-0 League Two win at Priestfield Stadium.
A precise headed effort from Robbie McKenzie was enough to separate the teams in all-action encounter which saw both sides finish the game with 10 men.
Gills skipper Max Ehmer was dismissed on the hour for a second bookable offence, while Chesterfield defender Chey Dunkley was also sent off himself for a second bookable offence in the dying stages, but the visitors could not find an equaliser.
“It’s a brilliant win for us,” praised Bonner, whose in-form side have now won three and drawn one of their opening four league fixtures of the new season.
“It’s a massive result. To take 10 points from the first four games and three clean sheets on the bounce with the circumstances, it shows huge character.
“They’re a good side. You could see that we did things a bit differently. In the first half, I thought that we had some really good bits.
“We were more comfortable in certain moments with the ball. High pressure that turned the ball over well.
“We had a horrible start. The first few minutes, we were honking, then after that, we got going a little bit.
“We scored the goal, a superb goal. Deren (Ibrahim) and Pete (Gill) work on those things all the time with set plays, but the execution from Jack (Nolan) and Robbie (McKenzie) and everybody else was very good.”
Chesterfield boss Paul Cook was left frustrated his side failed to take their chances when they had a one-man advantage in the second half.
“Gillingham started the game very aggressively, which we expected,” said Cook.
“They come onto us like you’d expect. They got the goal, which was totally against the run of play at that moment, which is football.
“We played ever so well at times and the goal we created just after half-time was top class. It was a really good goal.
“Unfortunately, it was offside and my only disappointment, as I said to them in there, was that we brought chaos to the game at the end.
“You have got to give credit to Gillingham, great credit to Gillingham, by the way. There was a great atmosphere in the stadium from both sets of fans.
“We should have finished the game totally dominant in their half rather than reds, yellows and free-kicks.
“When you hit the woodwork like we did today and you have the one or two opportunities that you had in the game – I don’t think Gillingham did that.
“They had one or two, don’t get me wrong, but we’re really disappointed that we haven’t at least taken a point because a point is the least we deserve.”
Interim boss Stephen Frail expects Motherwell to appoint a new manager next week and admits their first job will be to lift the players’ confidence after a 3-0 mauling at home to Ross County.A double from Ronan Hale and Connor Randall’s last-minute strike secured an impressive victory for the Staggies at Fir Park.Defeat sees the Steelmen drop into the bottom half of the Premiership tab...
Mark Hughes heaped praise on goalkeeper Gabe Breeze after Carlisle picked up a vital point in the League Two relegation battle with a goalless draw against in-form Colchester at Brunton Park.Breeze made two excellent saves from Lyle Taylor as the Cumbrians ended a four-game losing run and the former Man City boss was astounded by the 21-year-old’s performance.He said: “The game had som...
Chesterfield boss Paul Cook launched a scathing attack on his play-off hopefuls after they surrendered an early lead to lose 3-1 at Sky Bet League Two table-toppers Walsall.The Spireites enjoyed a rapid start when Jamie Grimes’ eighth-minute header put them ahead against a wobbling Walsall side, who were winless in five matches with the chasing pack closing in.However, Bim Pepple and Dylan D...
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has allayed fears of an injury scare to top scorer Erling Haaland ahead of next week’s Champions League trip to Real Madrid.Haaland went down clutching his leg in the latter stages of the champions’ 4-0 Premier League thrashing of Newcastle at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday and was immediately substituted.Losing the Norwegian would be a major blow to ...
Rotherham manager Steve Evans described Thomas Parsons’ performance as “atrocious” after the referee awarded a stoppage-time penalty from which Reading snatched a 2-1 victory in League One.Reading had led 1-0 at half-time through top scorer Harvey Knibbs but Sam Nombe levelled for Rotherham from a spot-kick in the 57th minute.With the game heading for a draw, Parsons adjudged Mil...
Michael Flynn believes his team can make a charge towards the League Two play-offs places after watching them come from 2-0 down to beat Barrow 3-2 at home.Matty Taylor scored twice before fellow substitute Ashley Hay hit the winner as the Robins continued their perfect home record in 2025.Cheltenham climbed to 13th in the table and sit eight points off seventh-placed Crewe with two games in hand....
Birmingham manager Chris Davies praised Jay Stansfield’s work ethic after he lit up St Andrew’s with the only goal of a 1-0 win to sink play-off chasing Charlton.Stansfield’s 23rd-minute strike stretched City’s lead to nine points ahead of second-placed Wycombe, with Blues boasting a game in hand.Victory was City’s 30th in all competitions as they extended their unbea...
Andoni Iraola refused to get carried away after Bournemouth fans were left dreaming of a potential Champions League adventure following a first league double over south-coast rivals Southampton.Travelling Cherries fans chanted of playing in European football’s premier competition next season after their side soared to fifth spot in the Premier League table thanks to a deserved 3-1 success at...
Norwich head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup praised his side for fighting back to draw 1-1 at Hull after he demanded “I want to see my football team back”.The Norwich boss had some tough words for his team as they trailed 1-0 at half-time to the relegation-threatened side, including for Kellen Fisher – but the player then delivered the assist for Josh Sargent’s equaliser.The Un...
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers says Jota has a chance of starting against Bayern Munich after scoring and impressing in a 3-0 victory over Dundee United.Jota earned the club’s man-of-the-match award after cutting in from the left and curling home from 18 yards to double the lead given to the hosts by another impressive finish from Callum McGregor.The Portuguese winger has now started two gam...
