Proud coach Ady Pennock hailed his players after ending their winless run on Saturday.

Despite suffering a number of injury blows before the match, Pennock was able to call upon fresh faces and they didn’t let him down.

He said: “We had to shuffle the pack but I am very proud of the players.

“They deserved those three points, end of. That is what it is all about.

“You could see from the fans with the atmosphere at the end that there was a bit of relief for them as well, obviously. We have to enjoy the win because it has been a long time coming.”

The Gills were missing Bradley Garmston (hamstring), Deji Oshilaja (groin), Bradley Dack (hamstring), Chris Herd (knee) and Mark Byrne (hamstring). All had played in their previous match on Tuesday.

Pennock said: “Even with the disruption the changing room has been first class.

“Rory came off injured but we stuck at it.

“Southend will be there or thereabouts, they are a very good side and Phil is doing a great job, which makes it an even bigger result for us.”

Southend boss Phil Brown wasn’t happy with the dismissal of Ryan Innis, for a second caution, and the penalty awarded for a foul on Cody McDonald.

Speaking to the press, he said: “This was officiating at its poorest and somebody needs to be brought to task.

"If you can't handle pressure then you shouldn't be officiating."

Pennock thought differently.

He said: “It was a second yellow card (for Innis). I didn’t know he had his first to be honest.

“It was a yellow, he tripped our lad up and I didn’t know why he took so long.

“Southend are not going to be happy but I don’t want to talk about them or the referee, I want to talk about Gillingham Football Club and a big three points.

“(For the penalty) he got the wrong side of him, lunged in and it was a penalty. I am sure they will be bitterly disappointed. “We will have decisions go against us and I will be disappointed but I said all along they are human and I will never slag them off.”