Daniel Phillips picked up his third red card of the season as relegation-threatened Gillingham lost at home to Bolton Wanderers.

Aaron Morley put Bolton ahead in the first half but Phillips’ dismissal - after two yellow cards in the space of four minutes - was quickly followed by Declan John’s goal for the visitors. Jon Bodvarsson added a third late on.

Gillingham started the day three points from safety and that’s the way it remains as many around them also lost. Gills now have 10 games left.

Mustapha Carayol replaced Olly Lee in the starting line-up for Neil Harris’ side while the visitors were without Kyle Dempsey, the former Gillingham captain out with an illness.

Bolton had the better of the first half chances and took a one-goal lead into the break. It was a fine strike from Morley to put them infront.

Dion Charles had wasted a couple of good opportunities for the visitors, missing one effort with just the keeper to beat.

The opener came on 31 minutes, Morley finding the far corner of the Gills net after being picked out by Marlon Fossey.

Gills keeper Arron Chapman made a couple of routine saves to deny Fossey as Bolton looked to extend their advantage.

For the hosts, Dan Phillips had fired a low shot narrowly wide while Ben Thompson came close to connecting with an overhead kick from Ryan Jackson’s long throw.

There was a delay to the start of the second half following a medical emergency involving someone in the Bolton end, possibly a steward. Gills keeper Aaron Chapman summoned the medical team just as the teams were preparing to restart the game.

When play did get started, Bolton’s Fossey came close to a second, twisting and turning in the box before Robbie McKenzie blocked his eventual shot. Moments later Chapman turned over Oladapo Afolayan’s shot.

Gillingham had introduced Ben Reeves for Caryol at the break and the newly introduced sub whipped in a couple of corners that Bolton managed to deal with.

Fossey continued to cause problems for the Gills and played in Charles, who wasted another good chance with a shot straight at Chapman.

Hopes of a fightback were hampered when Phillips was sent off, his third dismissal of the season. His first booking for a foul on Afolayan came on 56 minutes and just four minutes after that he stopped Bolton from breaking by pulling Jon Bodvarsson down on halfway line, earning him a second caution and an early finish.

Five minutes after Phillips departed, Bolton scored their second, breaking forward after Reeves had lost possession. Bodvarsson got the better of Conor Masterson and had a shot saved by Chapman but the loose ball was turned home by John.

There was little chance of a comeback for the Gills but Masterson did head over from a corner with 20 minutes left.

Bolton scored a third with three minutes left after Bolton danced their way through the Gills defence, Bodvarsson well placed to tuck the ball in beyond Chapman.

Gillingham finished with just the one shot on target and well beaten on the day.

Gillingham: Chapman, Ehmer, Tucker, Masterson, Jackson, McKenzie, O’Keefe, Phillips, Thompson, Carayol (Reeves 46mins), Oliver (Kelman 87mins). Subs not used: Dahlberg, Tutonda, Dickson-Peters, Lee, Maghoma.

Bolton: Trafford, John, Williams (Thomason 87mins), Almeida-Santos, Johnston, Bodvarsson, Charles (Bakayoko 78mins), Fossey, Aimson, Morley, Afolayan (Sadlier 78mins). Subs not used: Dixon, Amaechi, Gordon, Senior.

Referee: Craig Hicks

Attendance: 5,109 (832 away)