Leeds 0 Gillingham 1

A GOAL two minutes before the break has given Gillingham the chance to pull off another vital win in their battle against the drop.

Leeds goalkeeper Neil Sullivan appeared to have Hope’s shot easily covered, but a wicked deflection took it away from him and into the back of the net.

Mamady Sidibe almost doubled the away side’s lead on the stroke of half-time, but his fine effort from Darius Henderson’s lay off was well saved by Sullivan.

Stan Ternent handed debuts to Jay McEveley and Jonathan Douglas, both on loan from Blackburn Rovers.

Gillingham: Banks, Nosworthy, Hope, Cox, McEveley, Southall, Smith, Flynn, Sidibe, Douglas, Henderson. Subs: Bossu, Hills, Crofts, Jarvis, Byfield.