ROTHERHAM suffered their heaviest defeat of the season after playing more than half the game with only 10 men.
They were trailing 1-0 when midfielder Danny Harrison was sent off 10 minutes before half-time for a two-footed challenge as he went for a 50-50 ball with Gills captain Barry Fuller.
Rotherham manager Mark Robins protested that it was not a sendin
g off offence but referees are under instruction to red-card a player who challenges like Harrison did despite the fact he appeared to get the ball.
"For me, there was nothing to it,"said Robins, who claimed Gillingham seemed to set out to unsettle his players. "It made it doubly difficult being down to 10 men and being behind. It's not an excuse but there's always the chance of a game like that."
Rotherham fell behind early on when Simon King headed in Nicky Southall's free-kick.
Defender Nick Fenton saw Rotherham's best effort tipped over by Simon Royce but with the home side a threat on the break it was no surprise when they doubled their lead after 57 minutes. The troublesome Adam Miller set up former Doncaster striker Mark McCammon, who was denied by Andy Warrington only for Miller to make it 2-0.
Substitute Drewe Broughton headed against the bar but the result was put beyond doubt when Garry Richards headed in a cross from John Nutter.
The home side added just one more through substitute Luis Cumbers in the 87th minute.
Gillingham: Royce; Fuller, Richards, King, Nutter; Southall, Weston (McCammon 46), Bentley, Barcham (Cumbers 84); Miller; Jackson (Jarrett 80). Unused substitutes: Julian, Mills.
Rotherham United: Warrington; Tonge, Sharps, Fenton, Nicholas; Cummins, Mills, Harrison, Garcia (Hudson 40); Barker (Broughton 75), Reid (Yates 77). Unused substitutes: Annerson, Joseph.
Referee: R Beeby (Northants)
Man of the match: Adam Miller.
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