Goals:

1-0: McGeady (15, low shot from 20 yards crept under the dive of keeper Bonham)

1-1: Lee (46, 22 yard free-kick into the keeper, but McLaughlin lost it and the ball rolled in through his legs)

Booking: O’Nien (90, foul)

Referee: Michael Salisbury (Preston): In such a tame event, he had little to get involved in and the game passed without incident 7

Attendance: 7,892

Entertainment: 1/5

SUNDERLAND (4-2-3-1)

3 J McLaughlin: No excuses for his error, which in today’s day and age gets viewed across social media by all. Terrible mistake from such an experienced goalkeeper, but he did, to be fair, soon recover from his slip

5 C McLaughlin: His foul brought the free-kick which led to the goal, but can’t be blamed for that. Didn’t get up the pitch to support the attacks that much, while comfortable in possession

6 Willis: Looks like he enjoys the art of defending, doesn’t get frustrated and competed well throughout

5 Lynch: Relatively safe and stable in the middle of the back four with Willis. Helped combat the Gills’ approach

4 De Bock: Given a testing time on occasions by wide-man Byrne and didn’t appear at ease as much in his opening displays for the club;

5 Dobson: Worked away, but didn’t exert a great deal of direct influence on the game

5 Power: Another who couldn’t be faulted for his honest outlook, but the Black Cats needed a bit more in the engine room than just hard work;

4 Maguire: Smashed a powerful volley wide from the edge of the area but a player of his ability to carve open defences and create openings needs to have more say in a lifeless game such as this one

5 O’Nien: A right back? A right winger? An attacking midfielder? Started wider, moved inside to better effect and close to turning in a McNulty cross from six yards out

4 McGeady: Scored with a shot that the keeper should and could have saved and like the rest of the attackers just didn’t do enough when it mattered;

4 Grigg: Zero threat on goal, no service to work from. Never looked like he was going to score or have any impact on the game. Sunderland need so much more from him.

Subs:

McNulty (for Grigg 66): Did offer a bit more of a threat than the man who he replaced, but that didn’t take much 5

Watmore (for Maguire 78).

(not used): McGeogh, Flanagan, Burge, Leadbitter, Kimpioka.

GILLINGHAM (4-2-3-1): O’Connor 4; Fuller 6, Ogilvie 5, Ehmer 6, O’Connor 6; O’Keefe 6, Jones 6; Lee 6 (Charles-Cook 90), Mandron 6, Byrne 7; Hanlan 6. Subs (not used): Walsh, Hodson, Ndjoli, Pringle, Jakubiak, Tucker.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Mark Byrne: One of the few attackers on the pitch who looked to make a difference.