A brace of penalties from Charlie MacDonald and two fine individual goal's from Myles Weston condemn the Gills to an ugly defeat at Griffin Park. 

Mark Stimson was forced to make a change to his starting eleven with Rene Howe injured in training on Friday but new signing James Walker provided an ideal alternative in attack.

Gillingham could have taken the lead inside three minutes as new boy Walker chested down to Mark Bentley, whose ball over the top found Jackson in space, the striker raced through on goal and sliced his finish onto the far post.

Soon after, Barcham pulled off his marker to meet Payne's curling cross on the left side of goal but could only head into the arms of keeper Szczesny.

That early promised ran aground in the ninth minute as Darren Dennehy's underhit back-pass fell to Charlie MacDonald, leaving Alan Julian with no option but to block his path to goal. The Gills custodian seemed convinced he had won the ball but the ref pointed to the spot allowing MacDonald to put the Bees into an early lead.

The goal signalled a good spell of pressure for the hosts and Alan Julian had to be on his toes to deny Sam Saunders sweetly struck 22nd minute free-kick, Julian diving acrobatically to his right to push that effort around the post.

Brentford were awarded a second questionable penalty in the 31st minute, Maher judged to have fouled Diagouraga from a prone position. Charlie MacDonald stepped up to take the spot-kick and duly rifled the home side into a two goal lead.

Things got worse still, soon after, as Myles Weston found space on the left flank and cut into the Gills area before blasting a stunning 35th minute strike into the far corner.

On the stroke of half time Jackson had a chance to pull one back after chasing onto a deep ball into the Bees area. He beat Szczesny to the loose ball but only succeeded in flicking it into the keeper's arms.

HT 0-3

Gillingham should have reduced the deficit in the 52nd minute, Maher crossing for Bentley to head goalwards. The bees keeper pushed his effort on the crossbar and Walker blazed the rebound wide of the mark.

With the hour mark approaching Mark Stimson took steps to change his side's fortunes introducing Weston and Rooney for Walker and Bentley, instantly giving his team a more attacking feel.

But for all their possession Gillingham struggled to carve out a decent chance on goal, leading to the 75th minute introduction of Mark McCammon.

It had little effect as just four minutes later Brentford grabbed their fourth of the game, Weston doing to the damage once more, cutting in from the left before finding the net via the post and the back of Alan Julian's head.

Late on Leon Legge sliced wide of the far post as the home side went in search of a fifth but Gillingham's misery was already complete.

Attendance: 6036 (Gillingham 1137)

Gillingham: Alan Julian, Barry Fuller, Josh Gowling, Darren Dennehy, Tom Wynter, Mark Bentley (59 Luke Rooney), Kevin Maher, Jack Payne, Andy Barcham (Mark McCammon 75), James Walker (Curtis Weston 58), Simeon Jackson.

Subs not used: Simon Royce, Adam Miller, Danny Jackman, Dennis Oli.

Brentford: Wojciech Szczesny, Kevin O'Conner, Ryan Dickson, Sam Saunders (Lionel Ainsworth 75), Charlie MacDonald (Ben Strevens 82), Myles Weston, Danny Foster, John Akinde (Carl Cort 82), Toumani Diagouraga, Tommy Smith, Leon Legge.

Subs not used: Simon Moore, Mark Phillips, David Hunt, Sam Wood.