Gillingham 4 Sheffield United 0: More set-piece suicide from the sorry Blades

The League One title favourites crashed to defeat at Gillingham as Emmanuel Osadebe, Adedeji Oshilaja, former Blades defender John Egan and Bradley Dack punctured the defence.

Adkins said: “We have to do better, that wasn’t good enough. We won’t shy away from that. It’s not about individuals. It’s all about the group.”

To add injury to insult, Jose Baxter left the Priestfield ground on crutches with an ankle problem which will be assessed by the medical staff today.

Gillingham ensured that former Scunthorpe, Southampton and Reading chief Adkins’s reign began on a disappointing note.

United’s frailty at set-pieces from last season continued with Osadebe bundling the ball across the line from a long throw in the sixth minute.

Oshilaja doubled Gillingham’s lead two minutes before the interval past George Long, who was preferred in goal to Mark Howard.

Egan converted from Brennan Dickenson’s corner in the 81st minute and Dack swept home a spectacular shot in stoppage time.

The Blades strikers were left to live off scraps.

In attack, Adkins had partnered Billy Sharp with Che Adams rather than Conor Sammon, who came on to replace the injured Baxter at the start of the second half.

Gillingham: Nelson, Jackson, Egan, Houghton, Williamson, Morris (Hessenthaler 46), Osadebe (Wright 88), Norris, Dack, Dickensen, Oshilaja. Unused substitutes: Garmston, Ehmer, McGlashan, Morris, Donnelly.

Sheffield United: Long, Freeman, Basham, Murphy, Sharp, Baxter (Sammon 46), Collins, Woolford (Reed 70), McEveley, McFadzean, Adams (Scougall 70). Unused substitutes: Howard, J Wallace, Higdon, K Wallace.

Referee: B Malone (Wiltshire).

Man of the match: Bradley Dack.