GILLINGHAM’S appalling home record came under fresh scrutiny as the side slipped to a seventh League defeat at Priestfield with Saturday’s 3-0 drubbing by third-placed Sheffield United.

Only bottom clubs Wimbledon and Bradford have lost more at home while Gillingham’s old “Fortress Priestfield” reputation has long dissolved with so many defeats.

The defence have now leaked 20 goals at home which equals the amount conceded away from Priestfield. Gillingham’s goal difference is now an unacceptable minus nine.

Eight days after humbling Premier League neighbours Charlton at Priestfield, Gillingham were taken apart by a hat-trick from 32-year-old Paul Peschisolido.

Player-manager Andy Hessenthaler admitted: “I really don't know what it is about playing at Priestfield. We had worked hard preparing for this game and I had stressed that the points were more important than FA Cup glory.

"I’ve been on about the need for greater consistency all season. Peschisolido caused us a lot of problems because we couldn’t handle him.

“But I was disappointed with the way we defended because we made things easy for him. We didn’t deal with the second ball at all. We've certainly moved from one extreme to the other in a matter of eight days.”

Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock said: “We had to weather Gillingham’s early pressure but once we started to pass the ball we were fine.

“We could have had a few more, but then you don’t often find yourself 3-0 up at Gillingham.”