Gillingham 0-1 Leicester: Brendan Rodgers’ side see off League 2 opposition

‘WHAT can I tell you about Gillingham?’ asked comedian Joe Wilkinson in a fabulous skit on the BBC’s live coverage from Priestfield. ‘David Frost went to school here apparently, there’s a famous shipyard… oh, there’s a cracked skate deck near where my brother lives.’

And there’s a decent soccer club with a community feel but a dedicated fanbase, the Taskmaster and 8 Out of 10 Cats star should have said. Sadly, Gillingham is showing signs of decline after a decade and more of mismanagement at the board level.

Neil Harris’s side prop up the Football League, 24th in League Two, having scored just seven league goals all season. There has been little to rejoice about in these places for a few years, but yesterday he offered a chance for escapism and a chance to finally look up.

Gills gave a good account of themselves on the pitch as they were narrowly knocked out of the FA Cup third round in front of a sold-out Priestfield. Kelechi Iheanacho scored the only goal of the game in the second half for the Foxes under pressure from Brendan Rodgers.

But more pleasing to these loyal fans is that 2023 has so far offered signs of optimism. New American owner Brad Galinson was paraded down the field before the game after he completed the acquisition to end 27 years of turbulent management under Paul Scally.

There have already been two wise appointments: Kenny Jackett as director of football and Andy Hessenthaler as head of recruiting, while the January transfer window promises to be a prosperous one, with striker Tom Nichols already joining from Crawley.

Harris’s side will leave this match feeling proud after making the match feel like a true cup tie. The bottom club in League Two held off the 2021 winners and Leicester barely sniffed until the second half. Gills passed well without threatening Daniel Iversen’s goal much.

Jamie Vardy had an early chance, he was thwarted by goaltender Jake Turner coming quick off his line, but other than that the Foxes rarely threatened.

At the other end, Dom Jefferies made a blistering run from midfield having won the ball himself and was shot from the edge of the penalty area, which Iversen had to save well.

Gills used the elements to his advantage and had a decent view of the goal after a long shot late in the first half, helped by strong winds at Priestfield. Max Ehmer, imperious in defense, deflected a long pass towards goal but could not generate the necessary power.

Leicester started the second half with much more intention, finally giving the traveling Foxes fans, exposed to the wind and rain on a roofless terrace, something to shout about. Turner made a decent save to deny Marc Albrighton’s speculative volley from the corner of the box.

However, Harris’s side continued to attack and Jefferies missed another half chance. From his defending and his play in midfield, it was hard to see why Gillingham were bottom of League Two.

But their play in the final third was exactly what you’d expect from the worst attack in the Football League: they’ve scored just seven league goals all season.

Leicester finally broke through Gills’ defense in the 56th minute, when Kelechi Iheanacho was the first to receive a loose ball after Kasey McAteer’s deflected shot. The Nigerian fired into the top of the net for his 16th FA Cup goal, more than any player since his debut in the competition.

Iheanacho and Vardy came close to adding a second goal minutes later, but Turner made two fine saves to keep Gills in contention. Vardy has felt eternal at times in recent years, but here, one wondered if he had lost that devastating extra yard of pace.