New Gills signing Scott Vernon is injured on his debut against MK Dons. Mark Stimson's side lost again on their travels, this time 2-0. Picture: Barry Goodwin

by Luke Cawdell

Gillingham suffered another defeat and another costly injury as their woes on the road continued at MK Dons.

New loan signing Scott Vernon lasted just 42 minutes before hobbling out of the League 1 clash and worse followed in the second half.

With 61 minutes gone the home side’s dangerman Jermaine Easter fired his side into a lead which they wouldn’t relinquish.

In the final minute Aaron Wilbraham ensured it would be a miserable trip home once more for the Gills with Dons’ second of the afternoon.

Despite the loss, boss Mark Stimson was a lot happier than he had been after Tuesday’s defeat at Brighton.

He said: “It was a decent performance and better than Tuesday night.

“Matt Fry was absolutely outstanding for his league debut.

“Unfortunately Scott Vernon has gone over on his ankle and had to leave in crutches so lady luck is again not with us and you do need that sometimes. We didn’t get that.

“Stuart Lewis played his first full 90 minutes of the season and I thought he was outstanding.

“I’ve seen some positive signs. Barcham was causing them a hell of a lot of problems and Mark Bentley put in another good shift on the right of the pitch and so there were a lot more positives than on Tuesday even though it was the same scoreline.”

Vernon and Fry were both making their debuts but their presence was unable to end Gillingham’s poor away form. The Gills have now gone seven league games without a win away from the comforts of Priestfield.

Gillingham started Saturday’s game brightly and had the best of the early chances as they looked to be adopting a shoot-on-sight policy.

With 12 minutes gone Curtis Weston shot low and forced keeper Willy Gueret into saving and he collected at the second attempt, with Simeon Jackson ready to pounce.

Just a minute later another low shot, this time from Andy Barcham, forced Gueret into making another save.

The Gills were parading two new signings and one of them, Matt Fry, was forced into making a super tackle to disposes Jermaine Easter after he broke clear.

Also coming close for the Dons was Aaron Doran, who dragged an effort just wide and Easter was again denied by Fry as he blocked a shot on 25 minutes.

Just before the break the Gills were dealt yet more bad news on the injury front as fellow newcomer Vernon limped off the field.

It nearly got worse moments later as Doran’s free-kick was headed onto the post by Mathias Doumbe.

With just over an hour gone the hosts did take the lead when Easter converted from close range from Jason Puncheon’s cross.

Keeper Simon Royce was forced into making an unorthodox save from Dean Lewington, after a corner-kick caused havoc in the area. His flick with a foot denied the defender from increasing the lead.

Wilbraham had the ball in the back of the net on 88 minutes but that strike was ruled out for off-side. Just a minute later he got his goal with a powerful shot to seal the win.

Gills: Royce, Fuller, Nutter, Gowling, Fry, Lewis (Rooney 88 mins), Bentley, Weston, Barcham, Vernon (Oli 42 mins), Jackson. Subs not used: Maher, Palmer, Julian, Yussuff, Payne.

MK Dons: Gueret, Lewington, Doumbe, McCracken, Gleeson, Wilbraham, Puncheon, Howell, Leven (O Gobern 90mins), Doran (L Gobern 56mins), Easter (Johnson 76mins). Subs not used: Baldock, Searle, Morgan, Swailes.

Attendance: 11,764