Match ends, Gillingham 3, MK Dons 2.
Gillingham 3-2 Milton Keynes Dons
- From the section Football
Gillingham beat 10-man MK Dons to secure back-to-back victories for the first time since April.
Danny Kedwell scored two early penalties for the Gills, the first after Tom Flanagan brought down Cody MacDonald in the area.
The same men were involved again for Gillingham's second spot-kick, Flanagan this time seeing red for his challenge.
The Dons fought back with a well-taken Patrick Bamford double, but Danny Hollands headed in the winner.
VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM
Gillingham manager Martin Allen told BBC Radio Kent:
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"It was that strange situation, 2-0 up, 12 minutes gone, playing against 10 men. Everyone who's watched football knows the opposition with 10 men seem to play better. I don't know why.
"It was always going to be a difficult fixture even though it was against 10 men, 2-0 up.
"I asked the players at 2-2 what they're going to do. It was testing and tricky mentally. Are we going to make something to win it or are we going to sit back and keep it at 2-2?
"Every supporter in that ground, at half-time, was worried, scared. We moved up another gear and the players were immense."
MK Dons Manager Karl Robinson told BBC Three Counties Radio:
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"I thought we deserved a point, but you don't always get what you deserve in football.
"Tom's (Flanagan) eagerness to win the ball back has cost him the first penalty and then he makes a mistake with a pass for the second and he tries to rectify his mistake with a rush of blood to the head, so he finds himself with an early shower. It's a learning curve for him but he's got to learn very, very quickly or find himself in a difficult position."
"This is going to be the hardest season that I've ever had and I'm looking forward to the week now. It's going to be a good week, we've got a difficult game away at Stevenage but it's important we roll our sleeves up and stand up for it."
"In the last 20 minutes we outplayed them, we passed it, we created chances and we looked fit so I want to take the positives out of today."
Line-ups
Gillingham
- 1Nelson
- 23Harriman
- 26Barrett
- 5Davies
- 3MartinBooked at 23mins
- 18LeeBooked at 89mins
- 12Gregory
- 19Hollands
- 7Whelpdale
- 10McDonaldSubstituted forWestonat 55'minutes
- 9Kedwell
Substitutes
- 21Howard
- 14Allen
- 11Weston
- 8Akinfenwa
- 4Linganzi
- 15Dack
- 6Legge
MK Dons
- 1Martin
- 4FlanaganBooked at 13mins
- 5HodsonSubstituted forMcLeodat 23'minutes
- 6WilliamsBooked at 90mins
- 3Lewington
- 8Potter
- 22CarruthersSubstituted forSmithat 15'minutes
- 23GreenBooked at 6mins
- 7Gleeson
- 10ChadwickSubstituted forPowellat 61'minutes
- 15Bamford
Substitutes
- 16McLoughlin
- 11Smith
- 12Reeves
- 2Otsemobor
- 21Banton
- 17Powell
- 13McLeod
- Referee:
- James Linington
- Attendance:
- 5,410
Match Stats
Home TeamGillinghamAway TeamMK Dons
- Possession
- Home39%
- Away61%
- Shots
- Home13
- Away11
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away7
- Corners
- Home6
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home20
- Away12
Live Text
Full Time
Second Half ends, Gillingham 3, MK Dons 2.
Foul by Darren Potter (MK Dons).
Charlie Lee (Gillingham) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Booking
Shaun Williams (MK Dons) is shown the yellow card.
Foul by Shaun Williams (MK Dons).
Callum Davies (Gillingham) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Patrick Bamford (MK Dons).
Danny Hollands (Gillingham) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Hand ball by Izale McLeod (MK Dons).
Attempt saved. Shaun Williams (MK Dons) left footed shot from more than 35 yards is saved in the top left corner.
Booking
Charlie Lee (Gillingham) is shown the yellow card.
Patrick Bamford (MK Dons) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Charlie Lee (Gillingham).
Darren Potter (MK Dons) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Charlie Lee (Gillingham).
Attempt missed. Danny Kedwell (Gillingham) header from the right side of the six yard box is high and wide to the left.
Corner, Gillingham. Conceded by Izale McLeod.
Attempt missed. Danny Green (MK Dons) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high.
Izale McLeod (MK Dons) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Michael Harriman (Gillingham).
Attempt missed. Stephen Gleeson (MK Dons) right footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is close, but misses to the left.
Attempt saved. Izale McLeod (MK Dons) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner.
Corner, MK Dons. Conceded by Michael Harriman.
Daniel Powell (MK Dons) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Joe Martin (Gillingham).
Alan Smith (MK Dons) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Myles Weston (Gillingham).
Attempt missed. Charlie Lee (Gillingham) right footed shot from the left side of the box is high and wide to the right.
Attempt saved. Patrick Bamford (MK Dons) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Attempt missed. Myles Weston (Gillingham) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is close, but misses the top right corner.
Attempt missed. Patrick Bamford (MK Dons) right footed shot from the centre of the box is just a bit too high.
Attempt missed. Myles Weston (Gillingham) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses the top right corner from a direct free kick.
Substitution
Substitution, MK Dons. Daniel Powell replaces Luke Chadwick.
Foul by Patrick Bamford (MK Dons).
Michael Harriman (Gillingham) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Goal!
Goal! Gillingham 3, MK Dons 2. Danny Hollands (Gillingham) header from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner.
Attempt saved. Luke Chadwick (MK Dons) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner.
Substitution
Substitution, Gillingham. Myles Weston replaces Cody McDonald.
Darren Potter (MK Dons) wins a free kick in the attacking half.