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Gillingham manager Steve Evans admitted his players were ‘running on empty’ after a crucial win over Doncaster Rovers on Saturday.
The Gills extended their unbeaten run in the league to 13 matches and climbed up to 10th place in the table, the highest they have been so far this season.
Evans’ men have the chance to close the gap on the top six to just four points when they visit Southend United on Tuesday night but the manager knows they must improve.
Speaking to the club’s media, Evans said: “I’m just so proud of the players. There were players running on empty to get us a good win.
“Doncaster are a good side with good players, and a good manager, so we will take the win but we will need to be a lot better on Tuesday for sure.”
Reacting to that win over Doncaster, Evans added: “It was a performance of two halves.
“First half we weren’t so good, second half we were very good. I don’t think by any stretch they dominated. They scored from a wonderful strike from a really talented kid to put them infront, it wasn’t such good organisation from us.
“We said to the boys at half-time, there are no alarms here. We hadn’t really played but second half we were very good.”
The Gills were up against 10 men for the second half after Feji Okenabirhie had been dismissed for an elbow on defender Barry Fuller.
“I think the red card had an impact,” Evans said.
“It happened three yards in front of us. He’s had a look and then put his elbow right in Barry’s chops.
“That changed factors as we could spread play more and that’s how we’ve got the winning goal.”
The Gills are now eight unbeaten at home and Evans is loving the Priestfield vibe – once more getting a rousing reception from the Rainham End at full-time
He said: “It’s called Priestfield Stadium but someone said to me the other week it’s nicknamed the ‘Home of the Shouting Men’.
“We came out to a wonderful reception, not only from the Rainham End, who get better and better every week, but from three sides who were really behind the team. We’re in this together.”
