FOOTBALL: Kinnear outburst at clown

ANGRY Forest boss Joe Kinnear described referee Phil Crossley as "a complete clown" as Gillingham's leapfrogged his team after this relegation scrap.

A Danny Spiller goal won Gillingham the match after Nicky Barmby's strike had been cancelled out by a wonder goal from Patrick Agyemang.

But Alan Rogers - on loan from crisis club Leicester - was dismissed in the last couple of minutes while the home team's player- boss Andy Hessenthaler escaped a red card for what looked like a rugby tackle on Andy Reid.

Kinnear fumed: "He should have been sent off. He conned the ref and even got up smiling. He stopped us in full flow.

"I'm sick at the way we have got beaten. The referee did more to get us beat than ourselves.

"He must ask himself why he is in the game. He was a complete clown."

Gillingham player-boss Hessenthaler, who has just signed a new three-year deal with the club, even wrestled one of his own players to the ground during a passionate second-half display.

Rogers had been dismissed two minutes from time for a foul on Kevin James and 'afters' with Alan Pouton, the same player Hessenthaler had bundled to the ground to keep away from trouble a few moments earlier.

Hessenthaler said: "We can't afford to lose any more players and Alan has a bit of a fiery temper so I wanted to get him away from trouble - I didn't mean to knock him over though."

Gillingham have been reduced to just 14 full professionals by an injury epidemic, and their midfield was virtually non existent for the first half hour. It was no surprise when Barmby netted from Gareth Taylor's cross.

But Gillingham appeared to relax rather than crumble and then found themselves level thanks to a strike of outstanding quality from 30 yards by Agyemang.

Hessenthaler said: "That goal came right out of the blue and was just what we needed. We had seven players under 25 out there and I can't fault their effort.

"We must use this as a turning point although we will not be fooled into thinking we're out of trouble."

The points which helped Gillingham leapfrog their rivals came when Danny Spiller bundled the ball over the line after good work by Kevin James.

The incident which so angered Kinnear came when Andy Reid broke free down the inside-left channel and, beating Hessenthaler for pace, was brought down with a tackle more suited to Twickenham.

Mr Crossley showed only a yellow card and would have been influenced by the fact there were a couple of the home teams defenders covering back.

MAN OF THE MATCH DANNY SPILLER

Impressive display and a goal.

GILLINGHAM: Hirschfeld 5, Smith 7, Ashby 6, Southall 7, Hessenthaler 7, Agyemang 7 (Pouton 5), Leon Johnson 6, Rose 6, James 7, SPILLER 8, Sidibe 7.

NOTTM FOREST: Roche 7, Louis-Jean 6, Rogers 7, Morgan 6, Walker 7, Impey 7, Thompson 6, Barmby 7 (Sonner 6) Reid 7, King 7, Taylor 7.

MANAGERS: Hessenthaler 7; Kinnear 6.

REFEREE: P Crossley 7.

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