The decision to hand Callum Davies his first league start of the season was no big deal for Gillingham boss Martin Allen.

Davies’ only other appearance this season came during Gillingham’s Capital One Cup defeat to Bristol City in August.

But after 10 games without a clean sheet, or a win, Allen had to act. He swapped Davies for Leon Legge and was rewarded as the Gills claimed their first shut-out of the season.

Allen said: “It wasn’t that bold a move as we hadn’t kept any clean sheets.

“I have watched all of the development games so far and Callum has been fantastic. I have been doing a lot of work with him, one to one, and I have to bring those young boys through.

“There has been a step-up in the work for Bradley Dack, Charlie Allen and Davies because if these senior players didn’t hit the mark, then those players would go in and play.

“One of them has gone in and the other two are full of running, energy and enthusiasm, great athletes and I have kept them out of it so far. If results didn’t change, then those two were the next two in.”