Gillingham manager Neil Harris criticised referee Jacob Miles after Davis Keillor-Dunn’s controversial goal earned Mansfield a point from a 1-1 draw at Priestfield.
The Scottish striker cancelled out Macauley Bonne’s early opener for the Gills, but it came from a free-kick taken when it appeared that referee Miles was in the process of booking midfielder Ethan Coleman.
Gillingham would have returned to the top of League Two with a victory but slipped from second to fifth after drawing a game for the first time this season.
“I feel we’re right to be hard done by,” said Harris. “It’s frustrating as the game swung massively at that moment.
“If we focus on the moment, Ethan brings the lad down. It’s a foul and a yellow card. I’m not disputing the law there.
“Mansfield’s players are well within their rights to play on. But the referee makes it clear to everybody in the ground, because of his actions with his whistle and the card, that he’s going to book our player. Ultimately, his body language and demeanour have made our team stop.
“I’ve spoken to the referee, who was good enough to give me his time. He obviously stands by his decision but needs to see it back. I’ve been fortunate enough to see it back. If he pulled the game back the moment they passed the ball, this moment would not be mentioned one bit.”
Former Charlton and Ipswich striker Bonne scored his first goal for the Gills 95 seconds into the game after Connor Mahoney capitalised on a loose pass from Stags defender Lewis Brunt.
Keillor-Dunn’s equaliser, his eighth league goal of the season, tied the game nine minutes before the break. George Maris blazed over after meeting Ollie Clarke’s cutback and Shad Ogie blocked Lucas Akins’ driven effort as the Stags went closest to a second-half winner.
“We recovered extremely well after the first two minutes,” said Town manager Nigel Clough after watching his side extend their unbeaten league run to 11 games dating back to last season.
“I thought in the first half we had an element of control to our game. Then in the second half we had the control and the chances. I’m pleased with the number of chances we made in the second half.
“Gillingham made some brilliant blocks and defended well. I think if George’s chance goes in just after half-time, we go on to win the game,” he said.
Clough saw no issue with his side’s equaliser, adding: “We just took a quick free-kick. I don’t think there’s anything in the rules against taking a quick free-kick. We tell them in training to play quickly. The ball went straight past their centre-half, who stood there watching, and Davis has finished it well.”
Wilder relieved after Sheffield United rediscover winning feeling at Bramall Lane
Chris Wilder cut a relieved figure after Sheffield United managed a long-awaited victory at Bramall Lane on Sunday.
The Blades battled for a 1-0 win over Watford in the Championship, remaining unbeaten through the first four games before the season's first international break.
Callum O'Hare, signed on a free transfer from Coventry City prior to this campaign, proved the difference as his dazzling run forced an own goal from Watford goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann after just two minutes.
Victory marked United's first win at home in league action since overcoming Brentford in the top flight last December.
Wilder was understandably pleased for his side to get off the mark in front of their home fans, with many of his new signings – and those who struggled in the Premier League last term – yet to taste the winning feeling at Bramall Lane.
"In our pitch [to Jesurun Rak-Sakyi], I said how important Bramall Lane was, there were two £15million bids for him and three-quarters of the Championship sides in for him," Wilder said after Sunday's win.
"Part of the pitch was him feeling what he felt today. For him, for [Jamie] Shackleton, for [Michael] Cooper it was big and hopefully they've enjoyed their first win in a red-and-white shirt.
"If it was important for the players, it was for the fans too, incredibly important.
"Sky are talking about us not winning for however long and you have to accept that is a fact but this is a brand new team playing in a different way with new players."
Wilder's Blades, who also missed a penalty from Kieffer Moore in the first half, remain among the favourites for promotion in the early stages of the season.
The veteran manager acknowledged it will take time to knit together his new charges, however.
"The disappointing thing is we didn't nail it down [against QPR], but the good thing is that it's a group who want to learn and listen and want to be coached.
"They're a proper team. It was a proper team performance right the way through."
Eight yellow cards were shown during a hard-fought encounter in Sheffield, with tensions rising at full-time after Gustavo Hamer's late tackle, with former Blade Daniel Jebbison also coming to blows with Harry Souttar.
Watford manager Tom Cleverley had no arguments about the frenetic finale, nor the result with United the better side on the day.
"If you summarise the result I think it was a fair one," Bradford-born Cleverley added. "It was a poor start to the game and then both teams had their share of good chances.
"They kept possession well and knocked us out of rhythm."
Sevilla 0-2 Girona: Martin and Ruiz help Michel's side to back-to-back wins
Girona eased to a comfortable 2-0 away victory against Sevilla thanks to goals from Ivan Martin and Abel Ruiz in Sunday's LaLiga clash.
Last season's surprise package Girona dominated proceedings from early on against a tame Sevilla, who are winless in four games to start the season.
Martin opened the scoring in the 41st minute with a tap-in from Miguel Gutierrez's cross into the six-yard box.
Ruiz secured the win 17 minutes from time, sweeping home from the penalty spot following a handball by Sevilla forward Isaac Romero.
Victory moved Girona to fourth in the league table on seven points, five behind leaders Barcelona, who they face next.
Sevilla, meanwhile, were left second from bottom on two points, with pressure growing on Garcia Pimienta after a woeful start to the campaign.
Data Debrief: Gutierrez delivers again for Girona
Girona have now won their last three LaLiga trips to Sevilla, achieving a trio of away victories in the top flight for the first time against any opponent.
Michel's side have also triumphed in their last six meetings with Sevilla in the league overall, another best for Girona against any Spanish club in the competition.
Sunday's success would not have been possible without the impressive Gutierrez, however, as the left-back once again delivered for Martin's first-half opener.
With four goals and 11 assists, Gutierrez has the most direct goal involvements (15) of any LaLiga defender since the 2022-23 season, with Oscar de Marcos his closest rival (14 – 2 and 12).
His threat down the left-hand side helped Girona accumulate an expected goals (xG) figure of 2.11, with Sevilla (1) well behind in that department after further disappointment.
Brentford 3-1 Southampton: Bees begin life after Toney with comfortable win
Brentford began life without Ivan Toney with a comfortable 3-1 victory over Southampton.
Bryan Mbeumo’s brace and a Yoane Wissa goal proved to be the difference between the two sides and condemned the Saints to their third straight loss since promotion back to the Premier League.
With departed striker Toney watching in the stands after his move to Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia, the hosts proved too strong for Russell Martin’s men. They created the superior chances and capitalised on an error-strewn performance from Southampton’s backline.
Mbeumo opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time before doubling the lead halfway through the second period and Wissa then got on the scoresheet moments later to continue Brentford’s strong start to the campaign. Yukinari Sugawara bagged a consolation in injury time for the Saints.
Brentford sit in fifth place ahead of the first international break, while Southampton are second-bottom of the league table with zero points.
Data debrief: Wissa continues to prove effective at home
Wissa now has five goals and two assists in his last seven matches at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Brentford have recorded consecutive home league wins for the first time since last November, and the first time in their opening home games since August 2018.
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