Last weekend City played poorly but somehow managed to steal three points from under the noses of Accrington. Today, however, their sloppiness cost them two points as terrible defending allowed ten men Gillingham back into the game after the visitors had fallen two goals behind at the break.

If truth be told, City were not really good value for their 2-0 lead at half-time and Mark Stimson's side played their part in an even first half. John Nutter tested Rhys Evans with a long-range drive from range and again got himself in on the action shortly after when his low effort from the edge of the box hit a City defender and rolled out for a corner.

The return of Omar Daley for City meant the hosts possessed a genuine goal threat today though and although a shot from the Jamaican was well saved at his near post by Gills 'keeper Simon Royce, City did take the lead when Peter Thorne scrambled home a rebound after Royce had tipped his initial header onto the post.

Even at 1-0 Gillingham would have probably felt hard done by at the interval, but they conceded again seconds before the break when Paul McLaren's neat footwork down the left hand touchline created space for Joe Colbeck inside the box and City's flying winger thundered in a pin point shot across Royce's body to double his sides advantage.

In the second half the Gills came more and more into the game though and clawed one back shortly after the re-start through their top-scorer Simeon Jackson.

City should have extended their lead afterwards but Thorne failed to slip the ball under Royce from an angle when one-on-one inside the area and although Gillingham were reduced to ten men when Mark Bentley was sent off for a lunge on Paul McLaren, they infact upped the tempo following Bentley's dismissal.

Although City will be disappointed to concede in the 84th minute, Jackson's equaliser, and seventh of the season, had been a long time coming, and yet again dreadful defending was to blame. Gillingham skipped through the City midfield at a canter and Jackson finished neatly into the corner as the visitors could sense that a first away point since August was firmly within their grasp.

City almost engineered a late, if undeserved, winner for the second week running but Royce was equal to Colbeck's shot in the dying minutes, although the experienced stopper was left stranded when Graeme Lee's header from the resulting corner smacked against the crossbar. Unfortunately for City, sub Willy Topp volleyed over the rebound and is still yet to break his duck in English football.

City can have few complaints with the result though and if they are to realise their potential then they must wean out the poor defending that is holding them back this season. It is remarkable, and perhaps comforting, to see we are still sixth in the table and only three points off the league leaders despite our current poor form, such is the lack of quality in this league. There is so much more to come from Stuart McCall's side but we just aren't seeing it yet.

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