Match ends, Gillingham 3, Coventry City 1.
GillinghamGillingham3CoventryCoventry City1
Managerless Gillingham mounted a late comeback to beat Coventry City and end a run of three straight league defeats.
Gary Madine's first-half penalty put the visitors ahead after Josh Pritchard had clumsily fouled Danny Swanson.
John Marquis tapped in to level on 82 minutes before a penalty from Coventry old boy Cody McDonald after Ryan Haynes had brought down Jermaine McGlashan.
McGlashan then sealed victory when he raced clear of the defence to fire across Coventry keeper Ryan Allsop.
Gillingham's first win in four games following the sacking of Peter Taylor lifted the Kent club out of the relegation zone to put them only one point and one place behind Coventry, who remain 18th.
Gillingham joint-caretaker manager Darren Hare told BBC Radio Kent:
"The lads were absolutely fantastic and have been for the last two weeks ever since the manager left. It's been difficult for them as it's been difficult for us.
"They kept battling away, kept probing, kept trying different things, kept running, kept competing and we were lucky enough to get the breaks.
"In the second half, we dominated, they were 1-0 up and looked like they were trying to protect that lead.
"It was just a matter of whether we could get a goal? And when we did, it changed the mentality of the game."
Sky Blues manager Steven Pressley told BBC Coventry and Warwickshire:
"I'm extremely disappointed and numb after that, especially after the performance we gave in the first half.
"We were very positive with everything we did. We created a lot of chances and dominated the game.
"We were very comfortable leaders at half-time and for us to go from that type of performance to the second-half performance is not acceptable.
"It is an extremely disappointing result, an extremely disappointing afternoon, and a situation where we really have to pick ourselves up and really need to understand the predicament we are in."
Line-ups
Gillingham
Formation 4-2-2-2
- 1Nelson
- 31Hoyte
- 4EganBooked at 40mins
- 5EhmerBooked at 73mins
- 2GarmstonSubstituted forDickensonat 83'minutes
- 18PritchardSubstituted forMcGlashanat 70'minutes
- 7Loft
- 8Hessenthaler
- 23Dack
- 9Marquis
- 10McDonald
Substitutes
- 6Legge
- 11McGlashan
- 12Morris
- 13Galbraith
- 19Norris
- 24Dickenson
- 29Romeo
Coventry
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 23Allsop
- 2Willis
- 21Martin
- 4Webster
- 26HaynesBooked at 87mins
- 12JacksonSubstituted forMillerat 77'minutes
- 6ThomasSubstituted forBartonat 67'minutes
- 19Nouble
- 7Fleck
- 10SwansonSubstituted forFinchat 81'minutes
- 8MadineBooked at 50mins
Substitutes
- 1Burge
- 15Miller
- 16Barton
- 27Finch
- 28Lawton
- 35Kelly-Evans
- 37Thomas
- Referee:
- James Linington
- Attendance:
- 5,141
Match Stats
Home TeamGillinghamAway TeamCoventry
- Possession
- Home54%
- Away46%
- Shots
- Home19
- Away8
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away3
- Corners
- Home7
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home12
- Away5
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Gillingham 3, Coventry City 1.
Goal!
Goal! Gillingham 3, Coventry City 1. Jermaine McGlashan (Gillingham) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Jake Hessenthaler.
Post update
Attempt saved. Ryan Haynes (Coventry City) right footed shot from more than 35 yards is saved in the bottom right corner.
Post update
Foul by Jake Hessenthaler (Gillingham).
Post update
Shaun Miller (Coventry City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Attempt missed. John Fleck (Coventry City) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
Post update
Ryan Haynes (Coventry City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Cody McDonald (Gillingham).
Goal!
Goal! Gillingham 2, Coventry City 1. Cody McDonald (Gillingham) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the top right corner.
Booking
Ryan Haynes (Coventry City) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Penalty Gillingham. Jermaine McGlashan draws a foul in the penalty area.
Post update
Penalty conceded by Ryan Haynes (Coventry City) after a foul in the penalty area.
Post update
Attempt missed. Cody McDonald (Gillingham) header from the centre of the box is too high.
Substitution
Substitution, Gillingham. Brennan Dickenson replaces Bradley Garmston.
Goal!
Goal! Gillingham 1, Coventry City 1. John Marquis (Gillingham) right footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal.
Substitution
Substitution, Coventry City. Jack Finch replaces Danny Swanson.
Post update
Attempt saved. John Marquis (Gillingham) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is saved in the top left corner.
Post update
Attempt blocked. John Marquis (Gillingham) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Substitution
Substitution, Coventry City. Shaun Miller replaces Simeon Jackson.
