Andy Hessenthaler was much happier with Gillingham's second-half display Picture: Barry Goodwin

by Luke Cawdell

Andy Hessenthaler admitted he was forced to use a few “choice words” at half-time to get his team firing.

A sloppy opening half had finished 1-1, but the Gills dominated after the break and in the end beat Burton Albion comfortably.

Gills boss Hessenthaler said: “We were happy in the end. In the first half I wasn’t delighted at all because we started very slowly. We looked like the away side and they looked like the home side. They took the game to us.

“We gradually got into the game and started playing with a bit more tempo and then got the goal from a good set-play. Danny Kedwell is a threat from them and Danny Jackman has the quality (delivery).

“We then started being sloppy with the football. We were giving the ball away too cheaply and we gave a silly goal away and went in at half-time disappointed.

“There were a few words said but we came out and started the second half the way we should have started the first.

“It didn’t need me to be saying anything to them really. They knew what I was going to say. They are not silly and they have been in the game long enough. They knew at half time they might get it in the ear hole and they did with a few choice words. They all agreed with everything I said.

“We need to start better and they responded to that in the second d half. The captain has said, ‘why do we need a rollocking from the gaffer at half-time to go and respond?’

“We earned the win in the end and it was a good result. Burton had only lost one and hadn’t conceded too many goals so it’s a pat on the back for the boys in the second half.”

Do you agree with the boss' verdict? Have your say below.