David Connolly and Matt Heath struck first-half goals to secure Leicester a
comfortable victory and plunge Gillingham deeper into the relegation mire at the
Walkers Stadium.
While the victory left Leicester fans dreaming of an improbable play-off spot,
Gillingham manager Stan Ternent now faces a huge task to beat off relegation
after this latest setback.
This was Gillingham's 11th defeat from 15 Coca-Championship away matches and
that shambolic record ensures the Gills remain firmly rooted in the bottom
three.
Craig Levein's side began brightly and barely two minutes had passed when
Richard Rose bravely blocked Keith Gillespie's thunderous goalbound volley from
the edge of the box.
Rose was forced to block again from Jordan Stewart's drilled effort before
Leicester were rewarded for their early endeavour through Connolly's superbly
crafted 19th-minute opener.
James Scowcroft collected the ball in midfield and found Gillespie lurking on
the right wing.
The former Manchester United man cut inside and supplied Danny Tiatto in space
on the opposite flank.
The Australian sent a vicious cross into the visitors' box where Connolly was
on hand to register his sixth goal of the season.
Suitably inspired, Leicester continued to press and 10 minutes later they
registered a second goal.
Gillingham midfielder Nyron Nosworthy fouled Stewart and Gillespie's
expertly-flighted free-kick was met by a combination of Heath and Nosworthy.
Heath seemed reluctant to claim the goal, but the Leicester defender was
credited with the strike despite the ball seemingly deflecting in off
Nosworthy's head.
Stan Ternent's side, whose last Championship away victory came at Burnley last
August, were struggling to cope with a rampant Leicester who were looking to
secure only their fifth home win this term.
With Gillespie and Tiatto at times tearing the Gills apart seemingly at will,
Leicester were unfortunate not to have secured an insurmountable lead before the
interval.
Indeed, only the alertness of Gillingham custodian Steve Banks prevented
Johannes Gudjonsson from repeating his midweek goalscoring exploits with another
long-range effort.
Such was the dominance of the hosts, it came as a huge surprise when the Gills
almost snatched a goal back seconds before the half-time whistle.
Darius Henderson drilled in a left-footed shot from the edge of the box which
Foxes keeper Stuart Taylor was forced to parry.
Having presumably received some harsh words from Ternent during the break,
Gillingham emerged for the second half with their teeth gritted and fuelled by
the realisation that relegation is fast becoming a grim reality.
Despite an increased urgency in the visitors' play, it was Leicester, rank
outsiders for a play-off spot, who came closest to scoring.
Nine minutes after the restart, the impressive Connolly hit the woodwork from
the edge of the box as the Gills breathed a huge sigh of relief.
Gillingham captain Paul Smith then almost dragged his side back into the game
with a delightful 25-yard volley which flew narrowly wide.
But Banks was being kept busy by Connolly before Nikos Dabizas blocked bravely
from Henderson from just six yards out.
Ternent replaced Alan Pouton and Darren Byfield with Matt Bodkin and Iwan
Roberts in a desperate last-ditch bid to claw their way back into the game.
But it was to no avail and Banks was again on hand to superbly tip Lilian
Nalis' fierce 18-yard effort around the post.
Teams
Leicester Taylor, Maybury, Heath, Dabizas, Stewart, Gillespie,
Nalis, Gudjonsson, Tiatto, Scowcroft (de Vries 70),
Connolly (Dublin 88).
Subs Not Used: Walker, Makin, Gemmill.
Goals: Connolly 19, Heath 29.
Gillingham Banks, Nosworthy, Cox, Hope, Rose, Southall, Smith,
Pouton (Bodkin 74), Crofts (Hessenthaler 90),
Byfield (Roberts 76), Henderson.
Subs Not Used: Brown, Ashby.
Att: 23,457
Ref: D Drysdale (Lincolnshire).
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