LEAGUE Two Gillingham subjected Championship Saints to a night of EFL Cup torment with a shocking 3-1 win at Priestfield Stadium.

Ashley Nadesan set the tone after just 11 minutes and Robbie McKenzie hit a quickfire double at the start of the second period before Russell Martin’s side could respond in the first-round tie.

Despite two divisions between the two outfits, Gillingham’s support never felt nervous as they threw men in front of an eventual Saints response – preserving a well-deserved, comfortable lead.

Over 1,750 Saints supporters packed the sold-out away end, just days after their trip to Sheffield for the Championship opener, but were only part rewarded with a late Charly Alcaraz consolation.  

Both sides had got their respective league campaigns under way with a victory thanks to a 2-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday and a 1-0 win over Stockport County at the weekend.

Saints were without Romeo Lavia, one of many not in the squad amid a transfer pursuit from Liverpool, and captain James Ward-Prowse as Martin made 11 changes to his starting team.

It saw first competitive starts for academy prospects Sam Amo-Ameyaw and Jayden Meghoma, as well as a competitive debut for summer signing Shea Charles.

Romain Perraud, playing in the unusual role of left-centre-back in a four, nearly had a disastrous start as his wayward back pass rolled just wide of Alex McCarthy’s post.

Saints were given warning signs but they were not heeded and Gillingham opened by the 11th minute; Nadesan finished a square ball after James Bree conceded possession.

Amo-Ameyaw was dangerous and saw a shot from close range blocked behind for a corner before Sekou Mara thumped one off the woodwork.

Neil Harris has his Gillingham side well-drilled, playing decent football and with a proficiency for set-pieces – they had a second from a corner ruled out just before half-time for a push.

They got their second through McKenzie, just over five minutes on from the restart. From a deep free-kick, a scramble saw the former Hull City defender bundle in to double the advantage.

Martin made a number of changes but the third goal did not go their way either, after Djenepo let the ball roll out for a corner-kick thinking Saints were to be awarded a goal-kick.

They were not – and with the way they had been defending set pieces, it was bound to be costly. After Gills won the first ball again, it bounced to McKenzie to crash in a compiler in the 67th minute.

Their three goals had all come from just three shots on target but McCarthy did make a top reflex save from a Tom Nichols volley in the closing stages.

There was still time for Tyler Dibling to make a debut from the bench and for the manager to enter referee Carl Brook’s book.

Substitute Alcaraz got one back for Saints with a low shot in the 89th minute but it was far too little too late to rescue Martin’s side.

Gillingham: Morris; Alexander, Clark, Ehmer, Lapslie (Malone, 71), Nadesan (Nichols, 71), Jefferies (Williams, 71), McKenzie, Clarke (Gbode, 83), Coleman, Ogie.

Unused subs: Turner, Gbode, Chambers, Gale.

Booked: Lapslie, Jefferies, McKenzie.

Saints: McCarthy; Bree, Lyanco, Perraud (Alcaraz, 58), Meghoma (Dibling, 84); Charles, S Armstrong (Doyle, h-t), Mara (Aribo, h-t); Amo-Ameyaw, Djenepo, Adams (Onuachu, 68)

Unused subs: Lumley, Stephens, Edozie, Ballard.

Booked: Perraud, Charles, Lyanco, Martin.