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Gillingham boss Neil Harris admitted he didn’t get the performance he wanted on Saturday but got the win regardless.
Headed goals from Charlie Kelman and Vadaine Oliver put the Gills ahead at Accrington before a stoppage-time penalty from the hosts made them sweat for the points.
Reacting to the win, Harris said: “It is not a game we will enjoy watching back I don’t think, quality wise, but that is irrelevant. Accrington were nine unbeaten at home and had won four in a row, and we got the three points.
“I wouldn’t particularly say we deserved to win the game on chances, I thought we were very wasteful in possession first half when we got into good areas.
"Accrington have had a great season so far, I know they will be disappointed, they have beaten a lot of really good teams (at home), we knew it was going to be a challenge, we knew it was going to be tough and we would have to stand up to it physically and, for the majority of the game, we did.
"There were a few choice words at half-time from myself about our lack of quality and physicality from a couple of players who didn’t do enough for me but key moments the goalkeeper made some great saves and, at the other end, two clear-cut chances and we put the ball in the net.
“Football is about scoring goals at key times and winning games and credit to my players for finding a way.
“I said to the players, maybe it wasn’t the performance I wanted or expected, but they found a way to win and if they can do that it is a great mentality to have as a group, but also if they want to get better, individually and collectively, then we need to be better.
“At this stage of the season winning games of football is all that matters. The key moments went our way because my players provided those moments. (Goalkeeper) Aaron Chapman has been working extremely hard with a quality goalkeeper coach that we brought in and my centre forwards have been doing a lot of work on and off the pitch with myself and they get their rewards as well.
“We might not have played great and Accy deserved something but we have had games like that, we should have won last week (against Sheffield Wednesday) and we should have won at Ipswich, those games didn’t go our way,
“The fans got a win and three points, I would be the first to admit it wasn’t a great performance to have deserved the points maybe, but the fans came in their numbers again to see a side, whether they play well or not, they have a right go.
“Ultimately at this stage of the season it is about winning games of football, pats on the back for good performances and not winning? That’s not for now, those are pre-season moments, this is real football and it puts us more points in the right direction to that safety line.”
Accrington scored their penalty on 91 minutes to halve the deficit, leaving the Gills to hang on at the end.
Harris admitted he was a little nervous, saying: "I was nervous, I won’t lie, because I am looking and thinking ‘what can I change?’ from behind me. I thought about putting Christian Maghoma on to make it six at the back, because of their size, but then I would have to take someone off the pitch, someone that is doing well.
"It would have been a big ask for the likes of Bailey Akehurst or Josh Chambers to go on. In that moment of that game with that physicality and what it means to us, it would have been really difficult for them. I thought about putting a second goalkeeper on - I am not sure if that is in the rules! We went with what I felt was our best group to finish the game."
Victory for the Gills now takes them four points clear of the drop zone and up one more place to 19th in League 1.
