FIRST DIVISION REVIEW
Not so much a truncated programme more a case of if you could find a game. I couldn't so it was a case of a television 'double-header' - being frustrated by England and watching Italy humiliate Wales. But the Nationwide First Division saw just two fixtures as the rest were called off due to the inordinate number of foreign, as well as domestic, internationals earning their living in the second tier of home football.
While David Beckham was winning three Euro 2004 qualifying points for his country two of his former Old Trafford teammates were earning Burnley a 2-1 win at Stoke City. For Stan Ternent's team it was a third successive win with both goals coming from ex-Manchester United players, although strictly speaking Luke Chadwick, on a season-long loan, is still on the OT payroll.
To make matters worse, the goal by which David May gave visitors Burnley the lead was his first league strike FOR SEVEN YEARS. That goal came in the 18th minute. Nine minutes later Chadwick's first goal in a Burnley shirt virtually sealed victory for the Clarets, who led 2-0 at the interval.
Carl Asaba did give the home supporters a small amount of hope when he headed home, seven minutes after the restart, but joy was short lived, as was Asaba's participation in the game. The Stoke scorer was sent off for a foul on May and the ten-man City side couldn't draw level and were booed off by the Stoke supporters for a second home defeat in succession.
A seven-goal thriller at Priestfield saw Gillingham earn their first home win of the campaign and in so doing they thwarted Millwall's bid to go top of Division One. Paul Ilfil put The Lions ahead after 11 minutes with a cross-shot with the home defenders expecting a cross.
The visitors were well in control but allowed Gillingham to level through a Mamady Sidibe header. Paul Shaw then put The Gills ahead, just before halftime. Belgian Bob Peeters then hit a brace inside eight minutes and with just 20 minutes left Millwall were 3-2 up and heading for the top of the table. But Marlon King levelled for the home side after he latched on to Danny Spiller's neat pass to lob Tony Warner, with nine minutes left.
But Gillingham were not yet finished and when Marlon King put Nyron Nosworthy through, in the 87th minute, the substitute, who had only been on the pitch for 13 minutes, made it an unlucky day for the Lions when he lifted the ball home off Millwall keeper Tony Warner. After no goals at Priestfield, all season, The Gills were grateful for the four that came at once.
Millwall boss Mark McGhee was none too pleased and said: "I know we can play 100 times better than that but, even if we had gone top, it would have been a totally false picture. We have not played well so far this season but this game was there to be won and we didn't, and we will have to change something."
