Gillingham 1 Sheffield United 3

EVERYTHING before this game was geared around a new beginning.

A new assistant manager in John Gorman, cementing the new-found friendship with this newspaper with the announcement the Kent Messenger name would prefix the Medway Stand and home debuts for two new players.

But Gillingham old boy Paul Shaw had not read the script and he popped up unmarked in the ninth minute, losing marker Chris Hope to make the most of Chris Morgan's flick on.

Gills did not learn and a minute later Andy Liddell picked out Danny Cadamarteri in acres of space inside the area, but Steve Banks got down quickly to block the shot.

Andy Hessenthaler’s side then put together their best move, working it through their diamond-formation in midfield, but Darren Byfield went for the spectacular, his overhead effort from Adam Nowland's cross high and wide.

Nowland, the impressive West Ham youngster who the club are keen to keep on loan, almost surprised Paddy Kenny with a thunderous 30-yard half-volley, but the Republic of Ireland international just managed to make the block.

Darren Byfield and Andrew Crofts got in each other's way in their eagerness to hurtle forwards towards Kenny's goal and United broke quickly only for Shaw to selfishly try a shot from the edge of the box when he had options left and right.

Crofts cleared off line from Morgan before Byfield's speed nearly caught out Kenny, but it was Shaw who was looking the most dangerous striker on the pitch, forcing a good, low save from Banks at his right-hand post.

Banks was called into action seconds later when he parried a well-struck Paul Thirwell shot, but he needed a brilliant goal-saving tackle from Danny Spiller to deny Shaw a tap-in.

Byfield surrounded by three defenders had a decent claim for handball turned away in the 31st minute and then turned Leigh Bromby brilliantly only to be halted in his tracks by an exceptional block tackle from Phil Jagielka.

Gills were making life difficult for themselves with over-intricate passing, but when they did need a neat pass to feet, Hope lumped the ball forward and got an earful from team-mate Byfield who was less than impressed.

Moments after upending Jon Harley and rightly getting booked, Hessenthaler was played in by Nowlands, but the player-manager could not stretch enough to get good contact on his shot.

The second half began with Neil Warnock's team slow to emerge and Gills went straight for the jugular Hessenthaler causing Bromby problems with his tenacity.

Gills skipper Nyron Nosworthy used his considerable strength to brush aside two Sheffield midfielders as the home side tried open up the sturdy visiting defence. He then went on a surging run, forcing a fingertip save from Kenny.

Leon Johnson's passing was a bright spot in a poor defensive performance as was his positional sense, unlike Hope who had another nightmare for United's second, gifting Shaw his second of the game from four-yards out.

The goal was made by a blustering run down the right from Andy Liddell, yet instead of whacking the ball out of touch, Hope lamely stuck out a foot and simply passed it to Shaw.

Gills responded with a double substitution Patrick Agyemang replacing Byfield and John Robinson on loan from Cardiff City making his debut in place of Hessenthaler.

But luck remained on Sheffield's side, Jagielka getting away with falling over the ball, which ran away instead of into the path of the lurking Darius Henderson.

The visitors then went straight up the other end and killed the game, the excellent Liddell beating two men before finding Michael Tonge who unleashed a left foot shot past Banks.

From the re-start Henderson fouled Morgan and the Blades captain somewhat harshly received a second yellow for retaliating.

It took Gills just three minutes to pull one back, good pressure leading to Bromby putting a perfectly placed header past his own keeper for a bizarre own goal.

Warnock stopped Gills from working up a head of steam in the last 15 minutes by making substitutions every few minutes and the game ended bad-tempered and scrappy.