Gillingham FC's Danny Kedwell

It’s down to business for Allen with Bradford visit

By Greg Miles Friday, August 17, 2012
11:03 AM

Gills won’t want a repeat of last outing against tomorrow’s visitors

While Martin Allen tasted victory in his first competitive game in charge of Gillingham in the League Cup this week, it is in the league that he will be judged on results.

His reign got off to a perfect start thanks to goals from Danny Kedwell and Ben Strevens in the 2-1 win over Bristol City.

But promotion is well and truly at the top of the agenda at Priestfield this season after two years of coming so close but ultimately failing to make it to the be-all-and-end-all for chairman Paul Scally – League One.

So, after relieving Andy Hessenthaler of his duties and then promoting him to director of football, Scally has placed his trust in Allen to lead the Gills back to the third flight – and that journey starts again, if you didn’t already know, tomorrow at home to Bradford City.

The Gills have a good record when it comes to opening fixtures, losing just once in the last seven years, when they went down 1-0 at Cheltenham in 2007; a peak was the memorable 5-0 thrashing of Swindon Town in 2009.

What Allen’s side certainly won’t want is a repeat of their last performance against the Bantams back in March.

Hessenthaler’s side looked to be cruising to a victory with a two-goal advantage 11 minutes into the second half, but they let their lead slip in controversial circumstances, leaving fans wondering what might have been if they’d had those extra points in the bag come the final day.

Lewis Montrose put the Gills 1-0 up on 25 minutes before an own goal from Bradford’s Simon Ramsden doubled the lead, but it all got a bit nervy with 19 minutes to go when substitute Nehki Wells stuck back.

The Gills just couldn’t hold on as James Hanson scrambled the ball into the net with six mintues to go, leaving Hessenthaler fuming. The linesman had flagged the goal offside, but he was overruled by the referee.

• Gillingham will host Championship side Middlesbrough in the second round of the Capital One Cup. The match will be played on Tuesday, August 28.