Gillingham set the standard to follow with their performance against Mansfield Town on Saturday.

Mansfield’s equalising goal was a topic of debate at Priestfield but Gills manager Neil Harris made it clear how pleased he was of his side’s performance against top opposition.

Report: Gillingham 1-1 Mansfield

“That was two really good teams and a really good game,” said the manager, following the draw.

“I am sure the fans went home entertained.

“Mansfield are a very attacking outfit, they had chances to win it, we had chances to win it.

“The game is going to be remembered for a contentious decision that led to their equalising goal just before half-time, which probably changed the complexion of the game in some ways.

“In a calm manner, I just reminded (the referee) that it is not just about the letter of the law he has to interpret, he has to interpret what’s going on around the football as well and referee with humility and that was the moment that was missing.”

Getting back to his team’s performance, Harris continued: “(It was) an extremely positive performance, really good.

“We have five tough games in 14 days, and we have set our standard now, not just with the home point but with the level of performance and we have to take that into Crewe on Tuesday night.

“We were good, we were really good, ‘there’s the level, come on lads, let’s hit that every home game’.

“I am content with the point, we were really good at times but they were really good as well and you have to accept they will score goals and hurt teams.

“I saw key areas I need to improve and maybe need to address as time goes on, I saw loads of positives, some top performances and I am quite excited going into Tuesday already.

“If you can’t win games at home we have to make sure we don’t lose and we did, we finished strongly as well and could have nicked it. The players were very pleased with their performance. That is the level of performance at home we have to replicate consistently. That is our standard.

“I thought we were excellent, I said in the last home game that it was the best half of football since I have been in charge, that was better.

“That first 39 minutes was absolutely exceptional football, the way we competed, without the ball, the way we passed it, moved, chances created, we were really good.

“Credit to Mansfield, who were better than us in the first 20 minutes of the second half, but we gained the ascendancy at times and I thought it was a really good game of football, a really strong performance from the players I picked.”