Match ends, Bristol City 2, Gillingham 1.
Bristol CityBristol City2GillinghamGillingham1
Simon Gillett scored a brilliant 83rd-minute winner to seal Bristol City a vital victory against Gillingham.
Sam Baldock broke the deadlock for the hosts after hammering a sweetly struck right-footed volley past Stuart Nelson from 15 yards.
Gillingham equalised when Charlie Lee blasted home from close range.
But late on Gillett, on loan from Nottingham Forest, unleashed a spectacular 25-yard shot that ripped into the top corner of the net.
The victory means Bristol City are now out of the relegation places but only on goal difference with Crewe also on 35 points.
Bristol City boss Steve Cotterill told BBC Radio Bristol:
"It could have been a lot better today. I thought we started the game really well. I think it's difficult when you're at home, but we've got a really passionate crowd behind us.
"I thought they started the game well and the team started well, of course when you get your nose in front, there's a little bit of worry that comes into things.
"Just before the end of the first half our passing had become a little bit untidy, and we gave possession away. We thought we had adjusted that, changed things at half-time and we were OK.
"But straight from kick-off, one of the lads fires it back to Steven Pearson. I don't know if he kicked it or it came out of a cannon, but either way it's come rifling back to him he then rifles it and it goes straight out of play.
Gillingham manager Peter Taylor told BBC Radio Kent:
"It was not good enough in the first half. We did get better second half, but you can't afford to start games like we started.
"To be fair, the players kept going. We got a good goal from Charlie (Lee), but then they scored a wonder goal.
"If our performance was better I'd have lived with that a little bit more, but the performance has to be better than that."
Line-ups
Bristol City
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Fielding
- 2Moloney
- 3Williams
- 34GillettBooked at 67mins
- 5Flint
- 18El-Abd
- 8ElliottSubstituted forOsborneat 88'minutes
- 19PearsonSubstituted forBurnsat 69'minutes
- 10Emmanuel-Thomas
- 9Baldock
- 14ReidSubstituted forPackat 69'minutes
Substitutes
- 15Bryan
- 17Cunningham
- 21Pack
- 23Barnett
- 27Burns
- 32Richards
- 35Osborne
Gillingham
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Nelson
- 29Hewitt
- 3Martin
- 4LinganziSubstituted forLeeat 45'minutes
- 26Barrett
- 6Legge
- 12Gregory
- 15DackBooked at 41minsSubstituted forPigottat 87'minutes
- 8Akinfenwa
- 19SmithSubstituted forWestonat 55'minutes
- 10McDonald
Substitutes
- 5Davies
- 11Weston
- 18Lee
- 27Fagan
- 31Hessenthaler
- 32Pigott
- 35Baxter
- Referee:
- Gary Sutton
- Attendance:
- 11,422
Match Stats
Home TeamBristol CityAway TeamGillingham
- Possession
- Home61%
- Away39%
- Shots
- Home8
- Away8
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away4
- Corners
- Home7
- Away4
- Fouls
- Home7
- Away12
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Bristol City 2, Gillingham 1.
Post update
Corner, Bristol City. Conceded by Adam Barrett.
Post update
Attempt missed. Charlie Lee (Gillingham) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right.
Post update
Attempt saved. Charlie Lee (Gillingham) left footed shot from long range on the right is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Post update
Foul by Wes Burns (Bristol City).
Post update
Joe Martin (Gillingham) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Sam Baldock (Bristol City).
Post update
Myles Weston (Gillingham) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Myles Weston (Gillingham) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Derrick Williams (Bristol City).
Substitution
Substitution, Bristol City. Karleigh Osborne replaces Wade Elliott.
Substitution
Substitution, Gillingham. Joe Pigott replaces Bradley Dack.
Post update
Brendan Moloney (Bristol City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Cody McDonald (Gillingham).
Goal!
Goal! Bristol City 2, Gillingham 1. Simon Gillett (Bristol City) right footed shot from outside the box to the top left corner.
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Post update
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Post update
Delay in match Charlie Lee (Gillingham) because of an injury.
Post update
Corner, Gillingham. Conceded by Sam Baldock.
