Gills keeper Alan Julian turns to blame his defenders after Scott Cuthbert had made it 2-0 to Swindon. Picture: Barry Goodwin

by Luke Cawdell

Gillingham slipped to their 11th away defeat of the season in League 1 at Swindon on Saturday.

Goals either side of the half-time break left the Gills facing yet another away day defeat - and then a penalty midway through the second half put the game beyond them.

Gillingham went close on a handful of occasions in the opening half but were unrewarded by the interval and paid the price. Swindon commanded the game in the second half and won comfortably.

Charlie Austin had struck the opener and from a corner kick early in the second half defender Scott Cuthbert doubled the advantage.

Billy Paynter made the game safe for the hosts from the penalty spot.

Chris Palmer pulled one back deep into the game for the Gills but it was too little too late.

Gills boss Mark Stimson said: “We stuck with the same side that played well at Exeterwith Josh Gowling stepping in for Matt Fry and first half we gave as good as we got.

“We were a bit unfortunate to go in 1-0 behind. It was a poor goal for us to concede.

“At half-time we just said we needed to keep nice and tight and be patient. But we then gave away a really poor second goal with a free header from a corner. It was uphill for us then.

“We had a couple of late efforts in the second half that were blazed over and again we need a bit more composure there. We are going to have to improve in that area.

“Alan Julian pulled off a save right at the end to stop it being worse and 4-0 would have been a devastating blow. No way were they three goals better than us.”

Simeon Jackson had the game’s first opportunity after five minutes, as the Gills started positively, but he failed to connect properly and hit the shot wide.

Swindon’s biggest threat came from their young striker Austin. He had the ball in the back of the net with 18 minutes gone, only for referee Steve Tanner to rule it out for a foul in the build-up.

Austin also tried his luck from distance but Gills keeper Alan Julian was equal to it and held onto the ball.

The nearest the Gills came to scoring in the opening 45 minutes was when Simeon Jackson’s poke at goal hit the base of the post.

With 37 minutes gone the hosts went ahead when Austin collected a pass from Simon Ferry, turned Josh Gowling inside the area and shot into the back of the net.

Gills’ midfielder Kevin Maher almost levelled things up after 41 minutes but home keeper David Lucas blocked his long range effort with his legs.

Seven minutes into the second half and Swindon doubled the lead through Cuthbert, as his header looped in following a corner-kick.

Curtis Weston and Febian Brandy came on for the Gills to try and get them back into the match but Swindon remained on top. Twice winger Danny Ward came close. Keeper Alan Julian also had to save well to deny Simon Ferry.

With 73 minutes Mark Bentley conceded a penalty, after bringing down Vincent Pericard in the area. Billy Paynter converted from the spot.

Swindon were peppering the Gills goal with shots but a combination of misses, and saves from Julian, kept them from inflicting further punishment.

Chris Palmer netted an 88 minute consolation, his first goal for the club, after Brandy found him just inside the box from John Nutter's short corner.

Gillingham: Julian, Fuller, Palmer, Gowling, Bentley (Wynter 76mins) Maher (Brandy 56mins), Nutter, Lewis (Weston 60mins), Yussuff, Oli, Jackson. Subs not used: Locke, Rooney, Payne, McCammon.

Swindon: Lucas, Cuthbert, Sheehan (Jean-Francois 60mins), Douglas, Greer, McGovern, Amankwaah, Paynter (Hutchinson 80mins), Ward, Ferry, Austin (Pericard 68mins). Subs not used: Smith, Timlin, Morrison, Macklin.