Brighton 4 Gillingham 2

NINE-MAN Gillingham suffered a heavy defeat at near neighbours Brighton on Tuesday night.

Despite Andrew Crofts firing Gillingham into an early lead, the visitors had Garry Richards sent off for a foul, and it went down-hill fast from there with Sean Clohessy getting his marching orders late on for a second booking.

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Gills manager Mark Stimson was clearly unhappy with the officials who wrecked any chance of his side getting something from the game.

"I've been frustrated at a few games this season but nowhere as much as this one," he said.

"You could see there was that belief there in the players and it was very frustrating, because we deserved something, but hopefully that's our bad luck with the officials gone now and we can ride our luck with a couple of games to come.

"Decisions change games and goals change games. There were many big decisions that the referee probably got wrong."

The Gills started the game brightly and captain Crofts scored with a stunning volley from long range after just four minutes.

Things turned on the 20th minute when defender Richards received his marching orders after a hefty challenge on Albion's David Martot.

Just two minutes later the scores were level, as a rejuvenated Albion scored from the penalty spot through Nicky Forster, after Danny Cullip fouled in the box.

Gills hopes of taking something from the match ended with a tragic two minute spell at the end of the half, when Adam El Abd fired from an acute angle and Tommy Elphick headed in a corner.

A positive start to the second half saw Gillingham come close to pulling a goal back as Adam Miller struck the top of the bar with a free kick.

Jake Robinson crashed home Albion's fourth on 68 minutes and Gillingham's never say die attitude earned them another goal as Crofts scored his second of the night.

Gills were down to nine men when Clohessy picked up a second booking on 82 minutes for kicking the ball away.

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Gillingham: Stillie, Clohessy, Nutter, Richards, Cullip (Fuller 46mins), King, Lewis (Mulligan 58mins), Crofts, Griffiths (Jackson 69mins), Facey, Miller.

Subs not used: Kiely, Oli.

Attendance: 6,836.