Manager Neil Harris was delighted the Gillingham players responded to his half-time demands on Saturday.

The Gills struggled to impose themselves on relegation rivals Crawley during the opening 45 minutes at Priestfield but a more aggressive approach after the break helped turn the tide.

• Report: Gillingham 1-0 Crawley

Harris’ men dominated the second period, restricting their opponents to very little as Shaun Williams’ 48th minute goal settled the match.

“I didn’t lose my rag with the players,” Harris said. “But I gave some home truths in a 30-second demand of the players and then I went tactical for five minutes.

“First half we didn’t defend well enough from set-plays, which is not a trait that I have seen in the last four matches, including Leicester, throughout the season really. I addressed that at half-time.

“We had to adjust and you can only adjust tactically the same players on the pitch if they respond to the manager and they are bright enough to be able to do it. We saw second half we dominated.

“We played five yards higher up the pitch second half, funnily enough we didn’t give anything away.”

Crawley had the better of the first half chances but Dom Jefferies put a sitter wide for the Gills.

“First half was quite even,” Harris said. “They had a couple of opportunities, we should certainly have scored as well and I was quite surprised it was 0-0 at half time.

“In the first half I felt we played it like we played the second half at Swindon. I said I don’t want that here at Priestfield, I want it to be more front-foot and more aggressive and second half there was no surprise we could have won that 5-0.

“We dominated the half because we played more like how I wanted my team to play, especially at home and I think we deserved the points.”

The Gills were backed by a large Priestfield crowd and Harris felt even with a slender lead in the second half there was no signs of panic, on or off the pitch.

He said: “We need to make sure we put in a performance that gets the fans off their seat and we did for the first 15-20 minutes and we didn’t for the rest of the half, but second half we certainly performed and got the fans engaged.

“The difference for me was the last five minutes, when we were only 1-0, there wasn’t a nervousness in the stadium, I felt confident in my team. I think the fans felt confident and the players certainly did, that comes with belief and points and results and good players.”

One issue Harris addressed at the break was movement in the box. It was Williams’ quick thinking to get onto a loose ball that won the game, after Tom Nichols’ effort had been parried by the keeper.

Harris said: “It doesn’t matter how old you are and how many games you have played, if you don’t stand still in the opponent’s box you will score goals. Tom Nichols did it three in three and Shaun Williams has done it now.”