Gills boss Andy Hessenthaler had to give his side a half-time rollicking as they beat Burton on Saturday.

The home side had gone in at the break level after Danny Kedwell had given the Gills a 20th minute lead only to see Billy Kee level five minutes before the break.

Hessenthaler admitted after the game that he had felt it necessary to give his side a dressing down in the dressing room to inspire them to a much needed three points:

“In the first half we didn’t start particularly well. There was a few words said at half-time. The first half wasn’t good enough but the second was far, far better.”

With Hessenthaler’s words obviously having the desired effect, Frank Nouble and Kedwell poked home goals to take the Gills into a 3-1 lead and with Burton having Aaron Webster and Ryan Austin picking up red cards, the game was done and dusted with the Gills boss glad to have got back to winning ways at Priestfield:

“It was a decent three points,” said Hessenthaler. “You only have to look at them, they’ve only lost one game leading up to this so I think my players deserve a lot of credit for their display. It was never going to be easy.”

Having opened up a two goal cushion and ultimately facing just nine men, Hessenthaler wasn’t critical of his players for not trying to hit more goals towards the end of the game:

“We don’t need to go on and score five or six. We’ve won the game, simple as that. Our goal difference is good at the moment anyway.”

Hessenthaler is right in that assessment as the win takes his side back up to sixth in League Two, just three points behind league leaders Morecambe.

Winning is all that matters at this stage of the season and keeping themselves in with a shout of promotion.

What will have impressed Hessenthaler most is defender Matt Fish more than comfortably handled himself on his league debut in Barry Fuller’s absence and with a first competitive trip to AFC Wimbledon to come next weekend, former Womble Danny Kedwell is now finding his feet and the back of the net.

Pic by Jack Gracie