Cody McDonald believes the Sheffield United performance was up there with the best.

McDonald scored the winner for the Gills with an opportunist finish, after reacting quickest when John Mousinho’s chance rebounded off the crossbar.

“It feels great to have got the winner and I think the lads thoroughly deserved it,” he said.

“It does make it sweeter that I scored it but it doesn’t matter who scores, as long as we win. We put in a great shift and we deserved it.

“I think it’s the best we’ve played (this season). We’ve put some performances in and worked hard and sometimes it doesn’t work out but overall we were solid.

“We were disappointed with the goal we conceded but it takes great character to bounce back and go and win the game at a place like that and we showed it.”

Gillingham had to dig deep late on as United sought to get back into the game after going behind for the second time in the match.

“The lads were great at the end,” said the match winner.

“The manager pointed out to us how solid we looked. We have set our standards now and we have to stick to it.”

McDonald admitted he had was told to improve his first half display and it took him just three second half minutes to respond.

“I thought I did well,” said McDonald. “In the first half the manager pointed out that I have to read the game a little better and I took that on board. I think I did that in the second half.”

Describing the winning goal, he said: “Myself and their defence thought it was going over, and the keeper possibly, but it dipped at the last minute and everything went slow motion.

“I seemed to just get there before everyone else. It’s one where you just have to be on your toes. Thankfully I was and it went in.”