Gillingham take route 1-0 to the summit

Nationwide Review

Have West Bromwich Albion, who won promotion to the Premiership on the back of a campaign that appeared to consist entirely of 1-0 wins, started a fashion? Gillingham certainly seem to be trying the same route.

Mamady Sidibe's pass picked out Guy Ipoua, who made no mistake from six yards, and the 63rd-minute goal was enough to beat Millwall at Priestfield, registering a third consecutive win by the magic margin and taking the Gills back to the top of the Nationwide First Division.

"Actually, 50 points is always going to be our first target," player-manager Andy Hessenthaler, celebrating his 37th birthday, admitted, "but I think we are good enough for a play-off spot."

Second-placed Norwich City won 2-0 at Brighton, Paul McVeigh and Clint Easton on target for the Canaries. "We are learning that mistakes will be punished all the more in this division," the Brighton manager, Martin Hinshelwood, confessed.

Coventry City's Calum Davenport clearly relishes the spotlight. Sent off in the midweek draw at Brighton, he handled a Reading corner to gift Jamie Cureton a penalty at the Madejski Stadium. After player-manager Gary McAllister limped off, Davenport equalised with 16 minutes to go and Jay Bothroyd scored to give the Sky Blues a 2-1 win.

Adam Bolder scored twice as Derby County won 2-1 at Grimsby. The game was held up for 10 minutes when the Mariners' striker, Steve Livingstone, and Rams defender Danny Higginbotham clashed heads. Livingstone was taken off on a stretcher in a neck brace, bleeding from an ear, and went for a scan.

Rotherham United's solid start continued when they drew 0-0 with Craig Brown's Preston North End, who have yet to win. "Horrible, scrappy," was the verdict of the Millers' manager, Ronnie Moore, "but we have played three of the best teams in the division and got five points. I have to be happy with the start."

Nottingham Forest's first win came at the expense of Sheffield Wednesday, beaten 4-0 at the City Ground. David Johnson got Forest off the mark after just three minutes and Jack Lester made it 2-0 two minutes into the second half. Wednesday's Gerald Sibon was sent off and Riccardo Scimeca struck twice.

Walsall picked up their first point of the season with a 1-1 draw at Sheffield United while Stoke City's first win, 2-1 over Bradford City, began with a goalkeeping howler from the Bantams' Gary Walsh. Dwelling on a back-pass on the 18-yard line, he was unaware of the lurking Andrew Cooke, who nipped in on the blind side, stole the ball and rolled it into the empty net to give the Potters the lead.

The result was a huge relief to manager Steve Cotterill. "To score our first goal of the season was our biggest aim today and to go on and win the game is obviously much better."

In the Second Division, Wigan Athletic are the only side with a 100 per cent start thanks to a 2-0 defeat of Bristol City, who had Danny Coles sent off early in the second half with the score 0-0.

In the Third Division, Rushden & Diamonds, who beat Kidderminster 3-1, and York, 4-3 winners over Torquay, are level at the top on seven points. Despite having three players sent off at Sincil Bank, visitors Carlisle United beat Lincoln City 1-0.

Finally, a signing of the times. Lee Sharpe, the 31-year-old former England, Manchester United and Leeds forward, now at Exeter City, scored on his debut. The goal set the Devon side on their way to a 3-1 defeat of Hull City.