Marlon King scored a stoppage-time penalty to earn Gillingham a point.

Rovers' boss Graeme Souness missed the final day in favour of a scouting trip to the Continent.

The visitors strolled through most of the game, but Gillingham, to their credit, stuck at the task and were rewarded in the third minute of added time when youngster Darren Dunning, making his league debut for Rovers, handled in the area, leaving King to beat keeper Brad Friedel from the spot.

It was King's 15th goal of an impressive first season in Division One, and means he has something to celebrate on the weekend that saw his old club Barnet lose their Football League status.

Gillingham gifted Blackburn their early advantage though. Keith Gillespie's cross fell between two defenders and Nathan Blake, himself returning after an injury-hit season, headed home.

Blackburn could have won the game by half-time. Blake's 18th-minute effort was parried for a corner by Gillingham goalkeeper Vince Bartram. Then a minute later Jason McAteer saw his effort fumbled by Bartram, but he managed to dive on the loose ball.

Then Marcus Bent saw his effort come back off the bar after a weak header by Nicky Southall fell straight to him.

In the second half, Blackburn went close again when Bent fired just wide. However Gillingham refused to buckle and cheered on by most of the 10,000-plus crowd they wrapped up a series of chances. Iffy Onuora shot too high, Mark Patterson saw his shot deflected via a post for a corner and then King volleyed again over the bar.

Onuora's 70th minute header was the best chance but went over the bar, and then Mark Saunders headed wide when unmarked.

Skipper Paul Smith shot just wide, but with the minutes ticking away, referee David Elleray pointed to the spot leaving King to score comfortably.

Teams:

Gillingham Bartram, Patterson (Rose 81), Ashby, Saunders (Phillips 90), Hope, Smith, Southall, Browning (Ipoua 74), Pennock, King, Onuora.

Subs Not Used: Lovell, Browne.

Goals: King 90 pen.

Blackburn Friedel, Curtis, Taylor, Short, Flitcroft, Dunning, McAteer, Johnson (Jansen 76), Gillespie, Bent, Blake (Hignett 59).

Subs Not Used: Kelly, Keller, Duff.

Goals: Blake 5.

Att: 10,319

Ref: D Elleray (Harrow-on-the-Hill).