Burton Albion v Gillingham
TEAM NEWS: Nathan Stanton returned to the heart of Burton Albion’s defence for the visit of Gillingham – one of three changes made by caretaker manager Gary Rowett following Saturday’s 4-0 humbling at AFC Wimbledon.
Stanton returned from injury to replace Tony James, while the other two changes were in midfield.
Jimmy Phillips came in for on-loan Lionel Ainsworth, while Jack Dyer earned an instant recall having been dropped from the squad at the weekend. He came in for loan signing Seanan Clucas.
GILLS (4-3-3): Gazzaniga; Fish, Frampton (capt), Essam, Martin; Payne, Jackman, Montrose; Whelpdale, Kuffour, Obita; subs: Lee, King, Oli, Spiller, Vina.
BREWERS (4-4-2): Atkins; Corbett, Stanton (capt), Austin; Webster; Maghoma, Bolder, Dyer, Phillips; Richards, Pearson; subs: James, Ainsworth, Taylor, Clucas, Ada.
HALF-TIME: The Brewers were close to breaking the deadlock on two minutes following good work first by Phillips and then Greg Pearson, who threaded a ball through to strike partner Justin Richards.
The 12-goal striker was 12 yards out to the left of goal, but fired into the side netting when he should really have tested the keeper.
The visitors responded and midfielder Danny Jackman fed striker Jordan Obita in a similar position to Richards, but his effort was also wide of the near post.
Richards was in the thick of the action for the hosts early on and on 12 minutes, he did well on the edge of the box, but his low left-foot shot was straight at Gills keeper Paulo Gazzaniga.
The visitors responded on 18 minutes and a good run by striker Jo Kuffour set up Obita, but his low shot was straight at Ross Atkins in the Albion goal.
Albion thought they should have had a penalty on the half-hour mark when Ryan Austin’s searching ball found Maghoma, who touched it past left-back Joe Martin.
The defender clearly blocked Maghoma and the only decision the referee appeared to have to make was was the foul inside the penalty area or not.
However, he failed to blow his whistle and gave the Brewers only a throw-in as the ball went out of play.
The visitors were back on the attack on 40 minutes as Chris Whelpdale beat Stanton in the air and released Kuffour, but his shot across Atkins was saved low by the keeper.
BURTON ALBION 0, GILLINGHAM 0
FULL TIME: The Brewers started the second half well and when Dyer’s left-wing corner was headed out on 48 minutes, it fell to Maghoma, who tried his luck from 25 yards and watched in agony as it flew inches over.
Richards had a glorious chance on 54 minutes when he played a one-two with Pearson and found himself through on goal, but he could only weakly toe-poke it straight at Gazzaniga.
However, the Brewers were in front less than 60 seconds later – thanks to a slice of luck.
Webster played a great ball to release Maghoma, who tried to take it round the keeper.
Gazzaniga managed to get something on it but it hit right-back Matt Fish and rolled over the line.
Rowett made his first change on 80 minutes, with winger Ainsworth on for Pearson.
Albion had two great chances to extend their lead on 81 minutes.
First, Richards pounced on a slip by centre-back Connor Essam and burst into the box, but he saw his low shot blocked by Gazzaniga.
Ainsworth eventually picked the ball up on the left, cut in and tried to beat the keeper at his near post, but Gazzaniga got down to save.
With four minutes to go great skill by Phillips saw him send Ainsworth clean through, but his shot was blocked by the keeper’s legs.
Deep into stoppage time, Patrick Ada replaced Richards.
BURTON ALBION 1, GILLINGHAM 0
