Gillingham 1 Stevenage 1: Danny Rose opener cancelled out by Elkan Baggott as manager Steve Evans returns to Priestfield for the first time

Gillingham claimed a deserved point at Priestfield against the League 2 table-toppers.

Stevenage took the lead through Danny Rose moments after Scott Kashket had missed an open goal for the Gills but Elkan Baggott levelled the scores. Jordan Roberts shot wide for the visitors late on with only the keeper to beat.

Much was made of Steve Evans’ return to Priestfield on Saturday, the former manager back with his current club Stevenage, a side starting the day top of the league. The Gills more than matched the leaders.

Baggott came into the Gills line-up to beef up the defence against a physical opposition.

The odds were stacked against the Gills, facing a side with 10 wins from 13, but form of late had improved for Neil Harris’ men.

The confidence showed as Gillingham enjoyed an excellent opening half and were level at the break.

Baggott was picked firstly for his defending but also showed he was to be a handful inside the Stevenage box early on, nodding down a cross that Mika Mandron drilled wide.

Gillingham should have taken a 22nd minute lead after Hakeeb Adelakun’s fine run and cross put it on a plate for Kashket, with a simple finish into an empty net from a yard out. He somehow put the ball over the bar. Ninety-nine times out of 100 that would have been 1-0 to the Gills.

The home side had been their own worst enemies when it came to going forward, getting into some good positions from open play and dead-ball situations, but had been unable to deliver with quality. That would change but not before going behind.

Just six minutes after Kashket’s miss, the Gills found themselves a goal down. A cross from the right missed its target but Saxon Earley was lurking unmarked on the opposite flank and when he whipped the ball