Gillingham 1 MK Dons 0

Match 66/16/1373 - Saturday, 17th December 2016 - League One

Gillingham (0) 1 McDonald 72
MK Dons (0) 0
Attendance: 5,681

Entrance: Season Ticket
Programme: £3
Mileage: 58/4,924

Match Report

There has been nothing spectacular going on at Gillingham, but slowly but surely they are recovering from a dreadful November, an embarrassing cup exit and calls for Justin Edinburgh's head. True enough that they came into this game on the back of another televised nightmare and a 4-0 hammering at Bolton Wanderers, but Gillingham will not be the only side that comes away from the Macron licking their wounds.

In a game of very few chances, MK Dons had a single shot on goal, from the penalty spot, which Stuart Nelson saved whereas Gillingham fared a little better with Cody McDonald managing to get in between two big central defenders and direct a header into the corner for the winner.

The first half was pretty much a stalemate with a Bradley Dack header cleared from the line by Dean Lewington and referee Brett Huxtable unnecessarily taking centre stage with a series of bookings before, quite rightly, awarding a penalty when Paul Konchesky clipped the ankle of Kieron Agard. Dean Bowditch's penalty was well struck but straight down the middle and the trailing leg of Nelson was enough to divert the ball to safety.

Gillingham took the lead after 71 minutes through McDonald's header. Frank Nouble won a corner after travelling half the pitch with the ball; Dack played a quick one-two with Konchesky and swung in a great cross, which McDonald nodded home from five yards.

Josh Wright intercepted a poor clearance and beared down on goal but his shot was weak and saved easily by David Martin.

Gillingham moved into the top half of the table, it might not be exciting but the ship has been steadied and who knows as to where it might be sailing.