Gillingham were today's visitors on a warm, sunny late summer's afternoon at Belle Vue. They are struggling at the wrong end of the table and have a number of injury problems. Particularly in the goalkeeping position where regular keeper, Kelvin Jack, is injured. To replace him they have brought in former Barnsley keeper, Scott Flinders, on loan, from Crystal Palace. Mickey Walker is in charge of the Rovers for today but Sean O'Driscoll takes over next week after overseeing Bournemouth's game this afternoon. Mickey made three changes of personnel from last Sunday at Port Vale. James O'Connor moved to right back, with Adam Lockwood taking over from Graeme Lee, who dropped to the bench. Sean Thornton came into midfield, James Coppinger moved over to the left to accomodate Jason Price on the right and Jonathan Forte partnered Paul Heffernan up front. The Rovers defended the Rossington end in the first half.

The Rovers went immediately on to the attack, with Heffernan only inches away from scoring with a fine effort from the edge of the penalty area. The visitors then began to show, Crofts having a crack from 15 yards saved by Blayney, who then had to save a header from Bentley. On 9 minutes, Sancho, for the Gills, picked up a throw in and got to the right byline to cross to the near post where CROFTS glanced a header into the bottom corner of the net. The Rovers hit back by putting a free kick into the Gills penalty area, which caused a whole lot of problems for the defenders before the ball was cleared out to Thornton, his effort from 25 yards going wide. The Rovers continued to press but they were up against a packed defence. They also had to guard against the counter attack, which the visitors used to good effect. On 31 minutes, Heffernan hit the post from close range, his follow up was blocked by Flinders, the ball coming out to Thornton, who fired the wrong side of a post. A minute later, Jackman deliberately handled the ball to stop the ball reaching Price, who would have had a clear run on goal. He was booked for the second time and invited by the referee to go and have an early bath. Five minutes later, Forte put a low cross from the left byline into the middle for Price but his fierce strike was deflected by Johnson up in the air for Flinders to collect. In the 38th minute, Steve Roberts was deemed to have brought down Jarvis in the Rovers penalty area, the referee awarding Gillingham a penalty. FLYNN stepped up and blasted into the roof of the net. Constant attack by the Rovers followed, with Steve Roberts having a header to a corner blocked by Flinders at the far post. Another corner came out to Coppinger but his volley was beaten out by Flinders, who then held a low shot from distance by Gareth Roberts. Despite playing six minutes of added time the Rovers just could not breakthrough.

The Rovers brought McCammon on for Thornton at the start of the second half and proceeded to dominate the proceedings but the only effort of note in the first quarter of a hour was a header by McCammon in the 52nd minute, which went over the bar. On 60 minutes, Lockwood was dispossessed by Jarvis just inside the Rovers half. He set off for the Rovers goal, crossed low for Flynn, who was steaming up to help him but his shot was deflected for a corner. On 74 minutes, Heffernan received the ball 25 yards out and hit a piledriver that Flinders had to go full length to turn round a post. Two corners followed but they only produced a shot from Coppinger over the bar. On 75 minutes, McCammon to the left of goal hammered in a shot that Flinders beat out against JUPP, the ball rebounding into the Gillingham goal. The pressure was constant but the Gillingham defence was solid. On 86 minutes, Price crossed from the right for Heffernan to head wide from 10 yards. The Rovers battered the Gillingham defence unmercifully to the final whistle but could not find a way through. They had had 95% of the possession in the second half against ten men, with only an own goal to show for it.

Teams - ROVERS - Alan Blayney; James O'Connor, Steve Roberts, Adam Lockwood, Gareth Roberts; Jason Price, Paul Green, Sean Thornton, James Coppinger; Paul Heffernan, Jonathan Forte.
Subs used - Mark McCammon for Thornton 46 mins; Michele Di Piedi for Forte 67 mins; Sean McDaid for Gareth Roberts 80 mins;
Subs not used - Graeme Lee, Ben Smith gk.
Cautions - S.Roberts, Lockwood,

Gillingham - Scott Flinders; Duncan Jupp, Michael Flynn, Brent Sancho, Danny Jackman; Andrew Crofts, Ian Cox, Mark Bentley, Guylain Ndumbu-Nsungu, Leon Johnson; Matthew Jarvis.
Subs used - Clint Easton for Ndumbu-Nsungu 33mins; Sean Clohessy for Sancho 46 mins; Alan Pouton for Bentley 82 mins;
Subs not used - Gary Mulligan, Dean McDonald.
Cautions - Jackman, Jackman, Flinders, Flynn,
Sent off - Jackman 32 mins