Gills boss Mark Stimson faces some tough questions following a last-gasp away defeat at Southend on Friday night. Picture: Barry Goodwin

by Luke Cawdell

Southend 1 Gillingham 0

Gillingham were beaten in the final minute of injury time at Southend on Friday night.

Lee Barnard struck the winner in the 93 minute to heap further misery on Gillingham’s away form.

The Gills have now played eight away games this season in League 1 and picked up just one point.

Boss Mark Stimson did feel that on Friday night they deserved to at least return to Kent with a share of the spoils.

John Nutter had a goal disallowed in the first half and Mark Bentley smashed an indirect free-kick over the bar from close range in the second.

“I thought we had done enough to get a draw," said Stimson (pictured).

“I know they put us under a bit of pressure and created a few chances but we had put the ball in the back of the net and it was a strange decision by the referee to give a free-kick for shirt pulling.

“The two defenders (Gowling and Fry) did well but the kid Barnard scores goals and he gets in the right areas, that’s why he is top of the charts.

“We thought we kept him quiet for most of the game but he didn’t switch off. From a long ball to the far post, he gambled on his mate heading it back in the area, and it was a good finish but very disappointing for us.

Stimson explained his reasoning for naming just six subs, instead if the permitted seven.

“I didn’t think anyone’s performance in the reserves on Wednesday warranted being on the bench," he said. "That’s Adam Miller, Garry Richards, Luis Cumbers and Andy Pugh.

“Sometimes it’s too easy to just sit on the bench and be part of it. Hopefully they take it in the right way, buck up a little bit and show me this Wednesday (in the reserves) that they want to be on the bench.”

Gillingham's night could have ended a lot brighter had referee Gavin Ward allowed Nutter's goal to stand.

His 22nd minute free-kick was curled in past keeper Steve Mildenhall, but to his and the 877 travelling Gillingham fans there was frustration, as Ward ruled out the goal following a shirt pull by Barcham in the wall.

Royce was called into action twice late on in the opening half. He had to punch James Walker’s long range shot out of danger and between him and Nutter they managed to clear Barnard’s punt clear in stoppage time.

Early in the second half Jackson almost got a sniff of goal but was denied by a good clearance from defender Anthony Grant.

The Gills missed a great chance to take the lead just after the hour mark when they were given an indirect free-kick from just six yards out. Grant had been penalised for obstructing play during a goal-mouth scramble. Jackson laid the ball off to Bentley but he smashed the shot over the bar.

Seconds later Royce had to save well as Barnard broke clear and struck a powerful effort on target.

There were few clear-cut chances for either team in the second half but Ward did manage to dish out numerous bookings, with nine coming in total.

With time almost at an end a cross from Simon Francis was headed on by Alan McCormack and Barnard added the finishing touch.

Gills: Royce, Fuller, Nutter (Palmer 78mins), Gowling, Fry, Lewis, Bentley, Barcham, Weston, Oli (Maher 71mins), Jackson. Subs not used: Julian, Yussuff, Rooney, Payne.

Southend: Mildenhall, Herd, Francis, Cristophe, Barrett, Grant, McCormack, Laurent, Moussa, Walker, Barnard. Subs not used: O’Keefe, Joyce, Asante, Whittaker, Okai.

Attendance: 7,830

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