The hard work paid off for the Gills, said manager Justin Edinburgh.

His team had to battle for the points at Chesterfield on Saturday and came out with all three.

“It’s totally different to our last visit,” said the manager, who suffered a 3-0 defeat at the Proact Stadium towards the end of last season.

“We had to be patient and we had to concede possession, which we were happy to do. We certainly did the hard part well. We worked tirelessly and were prepared to go that extra for one another.”

The Gills were clinical in their finishing with goals from John Egan, Rory Donnelly and Harry Lennon.

Edinburgh said: “In a game that was quite open there weren’t as many chances as you would have thought but when they came our way we dispatched them well.

“Maybe we took the lead against the run of play but once the goal did come I thought we really settled into the game and looked really positive, but conceding when we did gave them a lift.

“We adjusted one or two things at half-time and I thought we looked more solid.”

Donnelly scored his fifth goal in three games to make it 2-1 to the Gills and Lennon sealed it.

“We felt they were getting down the sides, certainly down the right side,” said Edinburgh, on the changes he made at the break.

“We went to a back four, with Aaron Morris at right-back, and we looked more solid. I am pleased with the outcome of that.

“It was an easier teamtalk than the one in the week, which was the first time I had of that nature since I have been here. I certainly felt we continued where we left off.”