Gillingham piled more pressure on managerless Ipswich Town as Mamady Sidibe's first-half strike gave the visitors a battling victory at Portman Road.

It left Ipswich in desperate need of a lift, with Joe Royle in the frame to take over as boss from George Burley in a bid to revive their season.

Gillingham made a bright start and Paul Smith shot just wide of Andy Marshall's right-hand post for Gillingham after 10 minutes.

And Ipswich were stunned after 33 minutes when Gillingham finally broke out of their own half to take a shock lead.

Wayne Brown conceded a corner from Paul Shaw's cross, and as Andy Hessenthaler swung the ball towards the near post Sidibe rose to head home.

Pablo Counago went close to an Ipswich equaliser after 37 minutes, but his well-struck volley flashed just wide.

Ipswich made two changes at half-time, Tommy Miller and Darren Bent replacing Chris Makin and Jamie Clapham as caretaker manager Tony Mowbray shuffled his pack in a bid to get back into the game.

But it was Gillingham who had the first chance of the second half, Shaw's shot blocked by John McGreal.

Town gradually returned to the attack. Armstrong saw his 51st-minute shot blocked by Perpetuini, and then Brown produced another flying save to deny Ambrose.

The busy Brown came to Gillingham's rescue again on the hour, this time keeping out a close-range header from Ambrose.

After 64 minutes the visitors replaced Tommy Johnson with Marlon King, for his first taste of action since being released from prison.

King almost crowned his comeback within eight minutes, his close-range shot saved by Marshall.

Ipswich: Marshall, Makin, McGreal, Brown, Hreidarsson, Ambrose, Holland, Wright, Clapham, Counago, Armstrong. Subs: Darren Bent, Miller, Pullen, Westlake, Wilnis.

Gillingham: Brown, Nosworthy, Ashby, Hope, Perpetuini, Hessenthaler, Smith, Saunders, Shaw, Tommy Johnson, Sidibe. Subs: Bartram, King, Leon Johnson, James, Spiller.

Referee: J P Robinson (E Yorkshire)