Gareth Ainsworth was delighted with the relentless attitude his side showed as they beat Rochdale 4-1, securing a first victory of the season on Saturday.
The Gills went in 1-0 up at the break before Omar Beckles doubled their advantage seven minutes into the second period. Ainsworth admitted that he called on his players to continue ramping up the pressure, and they answered his call, scoring two more and taking complete control of the game.
James Brophy was the star of the show, scoring two beautiful goals, with his second, and Gillingham's fourth, being an outstanding solo finish, which reminded the Gills boss of John Barnes' goal for England against Brazil.
There was a dampener to the afternoon, as Zech Obiero and Will Goodwin were forced off early in the first-half due to injuries, and Ainsworth provided an update on the pair.
On the win...
I am really happy. You are always happy after a win, but what I am happier about is that we can get better than that. We really can. That's a 4-1 away win, if you think that is the complete performance, but there is so much context to it.
Losing two players after 15 minutes, having to replace them, seeing spectacular goals; not having the best of the first-half, but coming out and absolutely bossing the second-half. It was a really good away performance, with a travelling support that astounds me every time that I see it. I am glad that we sent them home happy.
The relentlessness the team showed...
They kept going. I felt for Ronan [Hale], because he did a job for the team in the second-half. All of his shots were from outside the box, and if he is going to score, it is going to be a worldie. But he is doing a great job for the team.
Once we went to 2-0, I smelt blood, and I said to the boys, 'Do not stop now. You do not stop going forward; you do not stop pressing.'
I had to have a bit of a go at them at half-time again, but not too much. We had to tweak something slightly, which I think worked a lot in the second -half. It stopped being a little bit basketball-y and started being more of a controlled game. We controlled it well, scored the goals, and when the man was sent off, we controlled it really well, as you are going to do.
It doesn't always work like that, and that is something that I have to be proud with the boys as well.
On James Brophy...
We did everything that we could to get James in. I think that he has shown, not just today but over the period that he has been here, is that he is robust, his energy and his positivity. He is great around the dressing room, and he is a real quality person. He epitomises what I am trying to do here.
What a cracking goal for the first, and then the second one, you're just watching. You don't often watch somebody for 30 seconds in the build-up to a goal, but I think that it must have been about that. If anyone can YouTube or get a video of John Barnes in the Maracanã in the 80s, and then have a look at James Brophy in Spotland in 2026, they are very similar!
On Zech Obiero and Will Goodwin going off...
Zech on a stretcher is not looking great. Will has walked off the pitch and felt something. We will have a look at that.
I am really gutted for Zech Obiero. It is the first time that he has done a hamstring like that.
