Gillingham 1 - 1 Rotherham United

GILLINGHAM were thankful to referee Keith Hill for stretching their unbeaten league run at Priestfield to nine games on Saturday.

The official ruled out what the Rotherham players thought was a match-winner after Shaun Barker's 83rd minute effort appeared to have crossed the line.

Gills manager Ronnie Jepson claimed he didn't see the incident clearly although Millers boss Alan Knill was more forthcoming.

"I'm at the halfway line so I can't see a lot and I haven't asked the players about it," said Jepson, after seeing his side turn in a below-par display against their struggling counterparts.

Knill, however, was adamant about it. He said: "It's over isn't it. Even their players said so and there keeper said it was well over. But the referee and linesman failed to see it. The things that they're paid to do and they didn't see it.

"It's those crucial decisions that cost you. It hasn't cost us three points but it's stopped us getting another two. We deserved to win."

Jepson did admit that his side weren't good enough on the day and they were thankful to walk away with a point.

He said: "I was happy with a point from what was a poor performance, which is unusual for us at home, because we've been playing well and setting the tempo.

"I was disappointed with the first half and the second as well. For some reason we had too many lads off the pace and when that happens you struggle, which I thought we did throughout the 90 minutes.

"We had a spell in the second half where we came into the game but overall I didn't think we deserved to win the game. So I was delighted after that performance to go away with a point."

The 1-1 draw maintained Jepson's unbeaten home league record but he doesn't think talk of that is helping the players.

He said: "Everyone's setting us up for a fall because all everyone talks about is our home performances and our home form and the lads listen to it.

"But to be fair to the lads they've done well at home this season and we just hope that's a blip here at Priestfield."

Jepson handed Tommy Black his debut after his loan move from Crystal Palace and the wide-man turned in a man-of-the-match display.