Neil Harris got off to a winning start as Gillingham manager with three crucial points against Crewe Alexandra at Priestfield.

Going into the game, the new boss knew he would have to overturn the worst run of results in the club’s history, having failed to win in their last seventeen outings, but come the end of the match, they’d sealed three vital points that will go some way to helping in the relegation battle.

With new signing Ben Thompson watching on from the stands having signed on Monday, but not in time to feature, Harris sprung a few surprises with his starting eleven.

Pontus Dahlberg dropped to the bench having conceded four goals from penalties in their 7-2 defeat by Oxford United on Saturday with Aaron Chapman preferred in goal.

As Gillingham lined up 5-3-2, Conor Masterson and David Tutonda were the other changes to the starting line up, with Vadaine Oliver having to settle for a place on the bench.

It was Danny Lloyd who scored the Gillingham’s winner from the spot in the 17th minute after Stuart O’Keefe’s shot had been handled in the area by Crewe captain Luke Murphy.

They almost doubled their advantage three minutes later but the unmarked Robbie McKenzie blazed wide after latching onto Lloyd’s dangerous cross.

Crewe defender Billy Sass-Davies almost diverted another Lloyd delivery into his own net and Mustapha Carayol saw his shot blocked.

Carayol left the field on a stretcher with a head injury which delayed the first half for 13 minutes, although the club later reported he was on his feet and had returned to the dressing room.

Oli Finney tested Aaron Chapman from distance before debutant Tariq Uwakwe almost curled in a spectacular equaliser as Crewe grew into the game after the break.

The inside of a post prevented Gillingham’s leading scorer Vadaine Oliver from wrapping up the hosts’ victory on the hour, but Harris’ side did enough to claim their first win in all competitions since October 19th.

Despite the win, Gillingham remain 23rd in League One, but with other results going their way, now sit just eight points off safety.

Neil Harris will now prepare his troops for the difficult trip to Ipswich Town on Saturday before coming back to Priestfield next Tuesday night to face Cambridge United.

It’s another big week ahead for Gillingham, but after this game, there is a real sense of belief that there is at least a chance of staying up with Harris in charge.

Gillingham line up: Chapman, Masterson, Ehmer, Tucker, McKenzie, Lee, O’Keefe, Tutonda, Lloyd (Jackson 85), Carayol (Oliver 45+14), Kelman (Phillips 68)

Subs not used: Dahlberg, Maghoma, Dickson-Peters, Sithole.

Goal: Lloyd (16).

Booked: Tutonda (65), McKenzie (97).

Crewe Alexandra line up: Jaaskelainen, Alebiosu, Offord, Long (Sambou 33), Lowery, Mandron (Porter 43), Finney (Ainley 73), Agyei, Murphy, Sass-Davies, Uwakwe.

Subs not used: Richards, Griffiths, Johnson, O’Riordan.

Attendance: 4917 (151 Crewe)

Referee: Darren Drysdale

Picture supplied by Gillingham Football Club.