Derby County 2 Gillingham 0

A GOAL in each half condemned Gillingham to their first defeat in 10 games against Derby County at Pride Park on Saturday.

Morten Bisgaard gave the home side the lead on 32 minutes after poor defending allowed Grzegorz Rasiak to knock the ball back across goal and Bisgaard did well to hook it into the net past the stranded Jason Brown.

The goal came just seconds after Darius Henderson had had a great opportunity to give Gillingham the lead, but scuffed his shot wide when clean through.

Henderson earlier saw his left-foot shot saved by Lee Camp after Mike Flynn had capitalised on an error by Derby’s Tom Huddlestone.

Rasiak had the best of the home side’s other chances in the first half, but dragged his effort a couple of yards wide of the post when well placed.

The recalled Darren Byfield had a glorious opportunity to equalise on the stroke of half-time, but wastefully lashed the ball over the bar with only the keeper to beat.

Gillingham almost levelled the scores within a minute of the restart but Camp made a fine double save, first from Jonathan Douglas and then from Flynn.

Derby put the match beyond Stan Ternent’s men with 19 minutes to go.

Chris Hope jumped under a long clearance by Derby keeper Camp and although Brown did well to parry Rasiak’s initial shot the ball fell kindly for Paul Peschisolido to roll into an empty net.

Matt Jarvis injected some pace into the Gills attack when he came on as a substitute and his superb run and cross almost produced a consolation for Flynn.

Gillingham drop to 20th in the Championship table just two points off the relegation zone with two games left.

Gillingham: Brown, Nosworthy, Cox, Hope (Jarvis 73), McEveley, Southall, Smith, Flynn, Douglas, Byfield, Henderson. Subs Not Used: Banks, Ashby, Hills, Crofts.

Attendance: 27, 481.