Simon Royce looks on despairingly after seeing the third Southampton goal go in

by Luke Cawdell

Gillingham boss Mark Stimson spoke of his disappointment at some of his more senior players after Saturday’s 4-1 defeat at Southampton in League 1.

The Saints hit three goals in the first half and one in the second to ensure it was another miserable afternoon on the road for Stimson’s side.

The 4-1 defeat came just two weeks after their last outing, at Leeds, which ended with the same scoreline.

Stimson said: “I was surprised and disappointed, really disappointed.

“These are the games that those guys should really get a buzz and a kick off. They are the senior players but they might not be the good players in the squad now, other players might be overtaking them.”

The Gills did get back in the game at 1-1, with a stunning Luke Rooney strike, but in the end Southampton ran out comfortable winners.

Stimson said: “We again shot ourselves in the foot and gave ourselves too many problems defensively. We were not strong enough and conceded really poor goals.

“That’s frustrating because our goal wouldn’t look out of place in the Champions League, it was an unbelievable goal from a very talented youngster.

“After getting back into the game you think, ‘okay, just keep your discipline’, but then the second goal was very poor. From their throw-in we’ve allowed a player to run straight into our box. No pressure, no contact.

“The senior players let us down. The young kids who played in Jack Payne and Rooney were, without going over the top, very good.”

The Gills were one down after 13 minutes when Dean Hammond’s cross was slotted past keeper Simon Royce by frontman Rickie Lambert.

Gillingham had started the game well, with Andy Barcham looking threatening down the left, but they were already facing an uphill battle after top-scorer Simeon Jackson failed to shake off a hamstring injury in time for the match.

More bad luck followed just four minutes into the game when Danny Jackman was brought down and had to leave the field clutching his shoulder.

Despite the set-backs the Gills levelled and it was Rooney who got the visitors back on terms. Rooney was making his first start for the Gills and he scored with a delicate lob from outside the area on 27 minutes.

The Saints came back strongly though and moments after Jacob Mellis hit the post, Papa Waigo N’Diaye struck to put the home side back ahead with 10 minutes of the half left.

Southampton were 3-1 up after 44 minutes when Mellis crossed for Adam Lallana and he showed great composure to control and finish past Royce.

Lallana added his second of the match in the 75 minute with another good finish, this time curling an effort into the net to finish the Gills off.

Stimson also confirmed that Jackman’s shoulder popped out of its socket early in the game, which means he will now almost certainly miss Tuesday’s game against Norwich.

That could mean a call-up for Adam Miller, who was absent on Saturday, as the club considered sending him out on loan.

“That’s probably out of the window now because Danny Jackman is injured and other players didn’t perform,” said the Gills boss.

Gills: Royce, Fuller, Maher, Bentley, Palmer, Barcham, Gowling, Jackman (Payne 6mins), Oli, Weston, Rooney (McCammon 73mins). Subs not used: Nutter, Richards, Erskine, Julian, Yussuff.

Southampton: Davis, James, Jaidi, Trotman, Harding, Wotton, Hammond, Mellis, N’Diaye (Holmes 87mins), Lallana (Gillett 76mins), Lambert (Paterson 88mins). Subs not used: Forecast, Saganowski, Preen.

Attendance: 19,457