Gillingham manager Martin Allen was thrilled to be putting smiles back on people’s faces.

The Gills boss has adopted a back-to-basics approach over the last fortnight – and it’s paid off.

Two wins in their last two games, including a 3-2 victory over 10-man MK Dons on Saturday at Priestfield, has given everyone a lift.

Allen said: “It has been tough for the players. It’s been back to basics, back to old-school and all of them have responded.

“The players have put the work in, they have done what I have asked them to do. They have shown that commitment, desire, drive and honesty. It is my job to test them and I have.

“This is what I do best. This is what I like doing. It makes me happy but it’s not about me and my job, it’s about the club and all the people needing to be happy.

“It hurts me when they are not happy. I knew we had to do better and the buck stops with me.

“One minute you are God and the next you are a dog. That is the life that I live and the life I have been used to and I thrive on it.

“Some decisions you make are going to work, some are not but the one thing you have to do is make decisions.”