Brooking not a happy Hammer

The defeat was the first Brooking had suffered since taking over the managers job on a temporary basis and he vented his anger at two players after the defeat at the Priestfield.

Striker Jermain Defoe was sent-off, much to the anger of the caretaker boss: "Something was said and if that's the case he deserved to go and everyone knows that. You have to walk away from situations like that."

"It cost us dearly and we walked away with nothing, and if we keep doing that every other third week then we won't bounce straight back this year," Brooking said after the game.

Defender Tomas Repka also came under fire from Brooking for his part in the two Gillingham goals: "Thomas cost us for the first goal - he committed an unnecessary foul and should have walked away and not got involved," said Brooking.

"Then came the free-kick which was outside the shooting area and we were 1-0 down over an incident that should never have been."