AS A REMINDER OF HOW quickly Gillingham have progressed, it is worth remembering that only ten years ago they faced Yorkshire opposition in a battle for Football League survival. In the last days of the 1992-93 season, the Kent club beat Halifax Town to preserve their own dignity and relegate the northerners to the Conference. Leeds United at the time, the pride of Yorkshire, were League champions.

The tongue-in-cheek comment to Terry Venables, the Leeds manager, after the Premiership club had been matched by their upwardly mobile hosts in the FA Cup on Saturday was: “The money from the replay will come in handy.” Traditionally it is the small club that welcomes the cash from cup replays but Gillingham, unlike Leeds, have put their financial house in order.

Eight years ago, Gillingham were placed in receivership until the arrival of Paul Scally as owner. The debts were cleared and, in the last financial year, the club made a profit. According to Scally, they would have done so this year but for what he described as the “ITV Digital mess”. Leeds, by contrast, are said to be £77 million in debt and in need of a Cup run.

“If we can do well it would be great for the club in the situation we are in,” Venables said after seeing his team lead through an Alan Smith free kick then almost lose. Mark Viduka was sent off ten minutes from time and Mamady Sidibe, having struck an equaliser two minutes later, would have scored the winner had he attacked an 89th-minute cross with greater conviction.

There is no let-up in reports that Jonathan Woodgate, the Leeds defender, is on his way to Newcastle United, following Rio Ferdinand, Robbie Keane, Lee Bowyer and Olivier Dacourt through the exit gates. The need to sell to reduce debts is frustrating for Venables, who, though vehemently opposed to Woodgate’s sale, insisted that he wanted to see the season out at Leeds.

“This is just an extraordinary situation,” Venables said of his predicament. On the one hand he says he does not wish to be “confrontational”, on the other he says it would be “foolish” to sell Woodgate, who is injured at present. Asked whether he knew where he stood, Venables replied with a firm “no”.

“It pulls you in two directions — where the finance has to be satisfied and where the team suffers for it,” Venables said. “You have got to get to the end of the season before you find out where you are.”

If Dominic Matteo’s view is representative, the players would not want to see the back of Venables. “I can’t tell you how good he is as a coach,” Matteo said. “He has definitely improved my game.” The tie had begun against the backdrop of a large banner meant for the attention of Peter Ridsdale, the Leeds chairman. “Peter — why are you selling our soul?” it read. At least the supporters were cheered by a sound professional footballing job — for 80 minutes.

Leeds had suffered only one anxious moment, when Guy Ipoua hit a post, until Viduka was sent off, reviving Gillingham’s flagging spirits. Viduka’s elbow made contact with the face of Andy Hessenthaler, the Gillingham player-manager, and while the victim was adamant that the dismissal was justifiable, and the referee stood by his decision, others saw it differently. They included one of Hessenthaler’s own players, Sidibe. “Viduka is unlucky,” Sidibe said. “It was not a bad foul.” Hessenthaler said it was “the right decision as far as I am concerned” and he pointed to a mark above his eye.

However, it is the knee of Marlon King, whose recent scoring form was brought to a halt by a knee injury and for which he has undergone surgery, that most worried Hessenthaler. If Gillingham are to push for a first division play-off place, they need King. “He might not be back this season,” Hessenthaler said.

In the meantime, Scally will continue to lead Gillingham with “controlled ambition, restrained by reality”. Leeds overstepped that line long ago.

Gillingham (4-4-2): J Brown 6 — N Southall 6, B Ashby 7, C Hope 6, R Edge 6 — A Hessenthaler 7, P Smith 6, M Saunders 6, P Shaw 6 — G Ipoua 5 (sub: R Wallace, 72min), M Sidibe 6. Substitutes not used: V Bartram, L Johnson, D Spiller, D Perpetuini

Leeds United (4-4-2): P Robinson 6 — G Kelly 6, L Radebe 6, D Matteo 7, T Lucic 6 — E Bakke 5, A Smith 7, P Okon 6, J Wilcox 6 — H Kewell 5, M Viduka 6. Substitutes not used: N Martyn, I Harte, M Duberry, R Fowler, J Milner. Booked: Matteo. Sent off: Viduka

Shots on target: (h) 6 (a) 4. Fouls: (h) 8 (a) 9. Offsides: (h) 3 (a) 4

Referee: N Barry 7. Attendance: 11,093

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