Assistant boss David Kerslake hailed Gillingham’s very own ‘special one’.

Bradley Dack took his tally for the season into double figures with the opener against Rochdale on Tuesday night.

Only a brilliant save from visiting keeper Joel Castro Pereira denied the 21-year-old from scoring a block-buster second.

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Kerslake said: “He has got that quality which is there for everyone to see and the grass that he covers is phenomenal. The shift he puts in for the team makes him special.

“The timing of Dack’s run (for the goal) was sublime and it was a first class goal.

“He is only a young man, he has a few games under his belt now and he will get even better.”

Dack’s volley in the second half was an effort that the player himself admitted afterwards was his best strike yet.

Only Pereira’s save denied him a goal.

“He hit if first time and we were all out of the dug-out,” said the Gills no.2.

“The keeper has pulled off a first-class save.”

Gillingham didn’t have too many chances at goal but Kerslake was just happy to see the points stay at Priestfield.

Summing up the match, he said: “We were the better team in the first half but they ended up changing their system and throwing caution to the wind.

“We dug in. We weren’t as good on the ball as we would have liked to have been but we showed a lot of desire to get the result.

“We are making this place a bit of a fortress and we will endeavour to carry that on. All successful teams have to dig in and if you have to grind the results out then you do.”

Rochdale boss Keith Hill wasn’t happy with Gills’ opener, as Ryan Jackson won the ball with a strong challenge.

But Kerslake said: “Both players went to do exactly the same thing and Jacko came out stronger.”