Walsall 4 Gillingham 1: Interim manager Keith Millen sent off in League 2 defeat for managerless Gills at the Poundland Bescot Stadium | Hat-trick for Isaac Hutchinson

Gillingham’s poor form on the road continued with a heavy defeat at Walsall on Saturday.

Managerless Gills had interim boss Keith Millen sent off early on for tripping a Walsall player as he went to take a throw and things went from bad to worse on the pitch.

The hosts eventually ran out comfortable winners with Issac Hutchinson scoring three and setting up another as the Gills defence just couldn’t handle him. Macauley Bonne scored on a disappointing day for Gillingham, losing 4-1.

A run of three straight away defeats prior to the weekend trip to Walsall was no doubt one of the reasons Neil Harris was sacked. Stand-in manager Millen had hoped to end that run against a Walsall side who were beaten 4-0 on their previous league outing, but it wasn’t to be.

Captain Shaun Williams was back for the Gills, one of several players making a return to the side, as the club’s injury problems eased.

The Gills struggled to keep possession early on and it needed a last-ditch challenge from Shad Ogie to stop Tom Knowles getting in on goal. Moments later he got the better of Freddie Draper, with the Walsall man ending up 10 yards away after bouncing off the Gills defender.

Gillingham started to settle and Tom Nichols went close when Ogie’s throw was flicked on.

Things took a turn for the worse when Millen was sent to the stands by referee Charles Breakspear, tripping over a Walsall player as he looked to take a quick throw. The official was quick to pull out his red card.

It left goalkeeper coach Deren Ibrahim to direct things from the dugout, with youth boss Mark Moss assisting.

Shortly after the dismissal, the Gills conceded. Walsall scored twice in five minutes as Gillingham failed to make a decent challenge around their own box.

Hut