Millwall dominated at Priestfield but could not find the cutting edge needed to snatch victory in a dire clash against struggling Gillingham.

Stan Ternent will be the happier of the two managers, with his relegation-threatened side testing goalkeeper Andy Marshall for the first time four minutes from the end.

Josh Simpson had Millwall's best opportunity of the game midway through the first half but he failed to trouble goalkeeper Steve Banks with a header from six yards.

Gillingham, who went into the game on the back of two consecutive Championship defeats, made just one change to their line-up, with Banks replacing Jason Brown.

Millwall, who drew 0-0 with QPR in their last outing, made three changes.

Player-manager Dennis Wise, Barry Hayles and Mark Phillips all dropped to the bench, with Marvin Elliott, Scott Dobie and Simpson coming in.

A bright start saw Gills new-boy Michael Flynn fire a 30-yard volley into the arms of Marshall and Alan Dunne flash his volley attempt past the upright at the other end.

The visitors bossed the early stages, and almost snatched the lead in the 16th minute.

Kevin Muscat crossed from the left, but Canada international Simpson could not direct his header on target from close range.

Striker Dobie, without a goal since Boxing Day, volleyed wide from the edge of the box shortly afterwards, while Dunne and Danny Dichio were both wayward with shots from distance as the Lions continued to threaten.

Gillingham had the last chance of the half, but Darius Henderson blazed the ball over the crossbar.

Simpson failed to reappear at the start of the second half, with fellow countryman Adrian Serioux coming on to replace him.

Millwall were not knocked out of their stride, though, with David Livermore just inches away with a volley from 20 yards on the hour.

The home side, who started the day in the bottom three, had rarely looked dangerous in attack, and this led to the substitution of Darren Byfield after 64 minutes.

Iwan Roberts came on, and shortly afterwards Matt Jarvis entered the fray at the expense of Richard Rose.

This gave the home side renewed impetus as Nicky Southall saw two well-struck efforts blocked by Muscat and Darren Ward.

Ternent's men had the chance to snatch an undeserved victory in the 86th minute, but Flynn's fierce close-range drive was tipped around the post by Marshall.

Teams:

Gillingham: Banks, Nosworthy, Ashby, Cox, Rose (Jarvis 71), Southall, Flynn, Smith, Crofts, Henderson, Byfield (Roberts 64).

Subs Not Used: Hills, Pouton, Bossu.

Booked: Cox, Southall.

Millwall: Marshall, Muscat, Lawrence, Ward, Simpson (Serioux 45), Dunne (Hayles 79), Elliott, Morris, Livermore, Dichio, Dobie.

Subs Not Used: Weston, Wise, Phillips.

Booked: Dunne, Livermore, Morris, Serioux.

Att: 9,127

Ref: A D'Urso (Essex).