Dominic Samuel’s fifth goal of the season was enough for Blackburn Rovers as they shaded Gillingham at Ewood Park.
Samuel stabbed home from close range as Tony Mowbray’s men continued their march up the table by recording back-to-back home league wins for the first time since March.
They struck a post late on, but one goal was enough to beat Gillingham, who had gilt-edged chances to score, but failed to hit the net for the seventh league game this term.
There were a number of changes to the Gillingham line up with Peter Taylor forced to recall Finn O’Mara from his loan spell at Folkestone Invicta.
The likes of Scott Wagstaff, Liam Nash, Alex Lacey and Luke O’Neill were missing with Tom Eaves suspended, although skipper Lee Martin was back from his suspension.
Meanwhile, Rovers were able to field former Gills star Bradley Dack alongside Samuel.
Rovers dominated the opening exchanges, but Samuel and Marcus Antonsson both sent efforts over.
The home side broke the deadlock when Charlie Mulgrew headed a corner into Samuel’s path and he wriggled free to divert the ball home.
The Gills should have equalised before the break, but goalkeeper David Raya blocked Ben Nugent’s shot from point-blank range.
Raya almost gifted Josh Parker a goal with an errant pass, and a frantic ending saw Derrick Williams hammer a shot against the post before the Blackburn stopper sensationally clawed away Elliott List’s close-range effort.
The defeat sees The Gills drop back down to 23rd place in League One and they now face Colchester United in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday night with Peter Taylor expected to change his side for the trip to Essex.
Blackburn Rovers line up: Raya, Caddis, Williams, Downing, Mulgrew, Whittingham, Smallwood, Bennett, Antonsson (Gladwin 87), Dack (Chapman 60), Samuel (Graham 74).
Subs not used: Leutwiler, Hart, Ward, Evans.
Goal: Samuel (31).
Booked: Chapman (63).
Gillingham line up: Holy, Byrne (O’Mara 60), Ogilvie, Zakuani, Nugent, Ehmer, Hessenthaler, Clare (List 70), Parker, Martin, Wilkinson (Cundle 75).
Subs not used: Arnold, Oldaker, Simpson, Starkey.
Booked: Byrne (11), Clare (23).
Referee: Mr Robert Jones
Attendance: 10,844 (400 Gills)