Manager Gareth Ainsworth admitted to getting emotional as his Gillingham team set a new unbeaten record on Saturday.

The Gills last lost a game on March 4, ironically losing 3-1 at Newport, but it was at the same ground where they managed to reverse that scoreline, making it 21 unbeaten since that defeat earlier in the year.

Report: Newport 1 Gills 3

Ainsworth’s men had to do it the hard way, coming from behind after going one down inside a minute before goalkeeper Glenn Morris then saved a penalty.

The Gills got it together as Bradley Dack levelled, Jonny Smith scored a stunner and Dack netted again from the penalty spot.

Robbie McKenzie, Dack and Sam Vokes all came close in the second half to extending the lead as Newport faded and the Gills registered another positive result, leaving them now two points clear at the top of League 2.

The Gills players and staff had photos in front of the 601 travelling fans before Ainsworth gave his reaction

“I don't know how to put the first half into words,” admitted the Gills boss.

“It was the most crazy 45 minutes I've been involved in for a long time. I was lost for words in the first five minutes. They surprised us.

“They played some great football and we weren't ready for it. We looked like a little bit shell-shocked.

“But honestly, 35 seconds in, I had a smile on my face because I thought, ‘I know my boys, I know what I've got here’. I did worry when they got their penalty, but obviously Glenn Morris has been in absolutely brilliant form and he's played the majority of the games in this 21-game run.

“That save was a massive, massive turning point in front of the away travelling fans, who were ridiculously magnificent.

“They never stopped. They saw everything. It was brilliant. They were so good.

“I'm emotional after 21, I never lie, I'm an emotional guy. I live on emotion on the touchline and I had a little choke-up moment when the final whistle went, because I thought that is so special for this group of players, to break the record.”

League 2 table