Stand-in skipper John Egan knows the Gills have set themselves high standards following Saturday’s thrashing of Sheffield United.

Replicating that 4-0 performance will be the task Gillingham now face.

“We have good players and we were confident we could win,” said the Irish defender.

“Four-nil is obviously a big scoreline and a great victory for us. But a win is a win and this is just the start of a very long season.

“It is a great way to start the season and it sets the standard for us. We know we can perform like that and it’s the standard we need to try and achieve every week now.

“You have to work hard every day in training. The gaffer doesn’t let anyone let up – that showed.

“We worked well as a team, we were there for each other and were putting in tackles and blocks when we had to.

“The best part of the game is that everyone took initiative and everyone talked. We are young and people might question that but people stood up and it was a thoroughly great performance.”

Read the full story in Monday's Medway Messenger - as part of five pages of big-match coverage from Priestfield