Crichton;

(from right) Thomas, Davis, Cox;

Weller (Mullin 51), Little, Ball, Cook, Briscoe;

Gray (Payton 51), Cooke (Branch 51).

Subs not used: Armstrong, Mellon.

Gillingham (4-5-1 player/manager Andy Hessenthaler)

Bartram;

(from right) Hope, Ashby, Butter, Edge (Nosworthy 46);

Southall, Patterson, Hessenthaler, Lewis, Gooden;

Asaba (King 46).

Subs not used: Bryant, James, Mitten (gk).

Attendance:...15,611

Shots on target:...Burnley 2, Gillingham 1

Shots off target:...Burnley 3, Gillingham 1

Woodwork:...Burnley 0, Gillingham 1

Corners:...Burnlley 5, Gillingham 3

Offside:...Burnley 3, Gillingham 3

Fouls conceded:...Burnley 12, Gillingham 11

Referee:...Peter Jones (Loughborough) 6

Booked:...Burnley: Davis (foul), Cook (hand ball)

Gilllingham:...Asaba, Lewis, Hessenthaler (all fouls)

BURNLEY RATINGS

CRICHTON: The keeper couldn't be blamed for the Gills' goal and when required showed some welcome catching after his earlier tendency to punch...6

LITTLE: The in-form midfielder was one of the most likely to break through a packed Gills defence and his fine run forced the own-goal equaliser...8

THOMAS: Pushed forward into midfield but didn't find his passing range and a rare mistake led to the visitors' goal...6

HCOX: Continued his fine start to the season as he kept a tight rein on dangerman Carl Asaba, bar the goal which should have been cut out at source...8

DAVIS: Defensively had little to do and tried his hardest to instigate things from the back...7

COOK: Not at his best, the schemer kept going and helped Burnley improve after the break...6

COOKE: Battled up front but with little to show for it thanks to a dearth of service and a suffocating defence...6

BRISCOE: Delivered a couple of decent crosses but didn't have the consistency he would have liked...6

WELLER: Got forward well in the first half but too often disappointed with a mis-placed final ball...6

BALL: More effective in a deeper second half role, the crowded midfield stifled his early influence...6

GRAY: One half-chance came his way but the striker was another to suffer from the Gills' spoiling tactics...5

SUBSTITUTES:

MULLIN: Incisive runs prised open the visitors' rearguard with only the final touch missing...7

BRANCH: Staked a claim for a starting slot with another lively showing, blotted only by a missed opening at the back post...8

PAYTON: Added an extra spark to the Clarets' attack as they pepped up after the break...7

OPPOSITE CAMP

BARTRAM: Did nothing wrong...6

PATTERSON: Helped stifle the Clarets in midfield...6

EDGE: Blurred vision forced him off at the break...6

ASHBY: Found Burnley more of a handful in the second half and netted the own-goal...6

BUTTERS: Solid at the back before Payton and Branch posed some questions...6

SOUTHALL: Dangerous customer on the break...7

HESSENTHALER: Led by example...8

ASABA: Took the one chance to come his way...7

GOODEN: Better going forward than defending...6

HOPE: Played his part in keeping Burnley bay for just long enough...6

JUNIOR LEWIS: Helped bottle up the midfield but added little else...5

SUBSTITUTES

NOSWORTHY: Missed a great chance to win it...5

KING: Fresh legs up front

TIME FOR ACTION

31 After a scrappy start, player-boss Andy Hessenthaler nearly fires the Gills ahead when he crashes an angled drive against the woodwork.

38 Burnley register their first shot on target through Steve Davis's 40-yarder

45 Glen Little finds a rare hole in the Gills' defence but Phil Gray places the loose ball wide

51 All change as Stan Ternent sends on Andy Payton, John Mullin and Graham Branch

60 Payton skips past Ty Gooden but Branch can't turn his cross-shot in at the far post

66 1-0 to Gillingham when Mitchell Thomas fails to clear and Carl Asaba gladly accpets the chance to beat Paul Crichton

70 Burnley are back on terms almost straight away when Little's surging run and cross forces Barry Ashby to turn the ball into his own net

80 Nyron Nosworthy misses a great chance to win it for the Gills when he mis-kicks at the far post

85 Branch claims a penalty when hitting the ball against Nosworthy's arm and Little's volley is deflected over the top

87 Burnley's last chance goes when a Steve Davis volleyed is charged down by Guy Butters

TECHNICAL TALK

BURNLEY quickly pushed the redundant Mitchell Thomas from the back into midfield to create an extra man but the Clarets couldn't find a way through the congestion. John Mullin's introduction in place of Paul Weller helped by-pass the Gills midfield but even with Andy Payton and Graham Branch giving more of a cutting edge the visitors held out.

SET-PIECE WATCH

ON a day when things didn't just click for the Clarets, they were badly off beam from free-kicks. The normally reliable Paul Cook struggled with his delivery before the break and afterwards the Gills filled the box to block off runs from the likes of Steve Davis.

KEY MOMENT

STAN Ternent's triple substitution after 51 minutes increased Burnley's potency but a mistake at the back made it a salvage exercise more than a match-winning one.