Two goals inside four first half minutes were enough to condemn Gillingham to defeat at Priestfield.

The Gills were two goals down after just 17 minutes against Portsmouth, a quickfire double scored by John Marquis and Michael Jacobs enough for the visitors, who also hit the woodwork.

There were four changes for the Gills following the weekend defeat to MK Dons, including a switch in central defence, as Christian Maghoma and Declan Drysdale replaced Jack Tucker and Zech Medley.

The Gills were in trouble early on, conceding the first in the 14th minute when John Marquis found the bottom corner from the edge of the box. The former Gills loan striker was one of three changes for Portsmouth, hitting his first league goal of the season.

Josh Eccles has been jostled out of possession by the Portsmouth striker and a super backheel from Ryan Williams fed the ball back to Marquis who was then on the edge of the Gills box, he took a few touches to keep it away from defender Christian Maghoma, before firing a shot across Bonham.

Just four minutes later and it was two. Jacobs was played in on goal, he beat the covering defender and managed to poke the ball past the advancing Gillingham goalkeeper Jack Bonham.

The closest the Gills had got early on was a free-kick from Tom O’Connor, attempting to beat the keeper from a long way out, taking a pop at goal rather than floating the ball in as was expected. He went just wide.

Gillingham had a couple of good chances to get a goal back, Vadaine Oliver heading over and Jordan Graham bending a shot narrowly wide.

Portsmouth went closer still, nearly adding a third as Tom Naylor’s glancing header from Ryan Williams’ cross hitting the upright.

Bonham needed to make an early save in the second half to deny Jacobs and Williams’ follow-up was deflected wide by Drysdale. Jacobs spurned another chance moments later, lifting a shot well over from Marcus Harness’ cross.

Gills made a switch 10 minutes after the restart, John Akinde joining Oliver upfront, as the home side matched Portsmouth’s 4-4-2 shape.

A deflected effort from Tom O’Connor nearly got them a goal back and Portsmouth defender Lee Brown went close to heading into his own net. Another chances was headed over by Oliver.

Marquis missed a great chance for the visitors, heading wide while unmarked, before Bonham had to save with his feet to deny Marcus Harness after he got in behind the Gills defence.

Portsmouth dominated the latter stages, holding onto the ball and their two-goal advantage, but the Gills did go close to making it interesting late on, on 87th minute Josh Eccles volley saved by keeper Craig MacGillivray.

Gillingham: Bonham, Jackson, Maghoma, Drysdale, Ogilvie, O'Connor, Eccles, Mellis, Oliver (MacDonald 85mins), Graham, Samuel (Akinde 55mins). Subs not used: Walsh, Tucker, Robertson, McKenzie, Coyle.

Portsmouth: MacGillivray, Johnson, Brown, Whatmough, Raggett, Naylor, Cannon (Curtis 74mins), Williams, Harness (Close 74mins), Jacobs (Pring 90mins), Marquis. Subs not used: Bass, Nicolaisen, Morris, Stanley.

• Match reaction: Positives in defeat, says assistant boss