Tranmere Rovers 3 Gillingham 0 match report: Defeat for Gills in League 2

Gillingham suffered their second away defeat of the season in League 2 on Saturday.

They never looked comfortable at a dominant Tranmere, who picked up their first league win of the campaign in the process.

Gills boss Neil Harris named an unchanged side from last weekend’s home win over Rochdale.

There was a return to the bench for Stuart O’Keefe, along with Joe Gbode.

Gillingham had an early escape when they were caught napping down the right of their defence as early as the fourth minute and Tranmere worked the ball inside for skipper Kane Hemmings, whose delightful left-foot chip came back off the crossbar.

It was the conundrum before the game for boss Neil Harris, whether to switch to a back three and match up Tranmere, or keep to his trusted back four. He went for the latter but Gills were being exposed by Tranmere’s wing-backs too many times.

Paul Lewis crossed on 11 minutes for right wing-back Josh Dacres-Cogley, whose low drive was blocked behind for a corner by Ryan Law.

Then Jordan Green lost the ball cheaply on halfway, only for left wing-back Ethan Bristow to cross straight at keeper Glenn Morris.

The breakthrough came for Tranmere after 18 minutes. Gills lost the ball in Tranmere’s half from their own throw-in and one ball over the top caught them square, allowing Elliott Nevitt to go through, hold off the last defender, and fire low beyond Morris.

A drinks break allowed Gills to regroup and they seemed to get more into the game. A Ben Reeves free-kick was headed clear only as far as Green, who dragged his shot well wide.

Then a clever Scott Kashket header set up Green, who missed his kick, but Reeves shot over from the loose ball.

At the other end, Tranmere nearly added a second but the visiting fans behind