Wigan Athletic’s club doctor didn’t enjoy his visit to Gillingham but home manager Steve Evans has wished the team well on their survival bid.

Evans’ side beat relegation scrappers Wigan 1-0, in what was a tough assignment for Gillingham, surviving several good chances before Vadaine Oliver rose a foot above his marker to head home a 76th minute winner.

It was a feisty encounter, on and off the pitch, and the Wigan doctor Jonathan Tobin described it as the “least pleasant bench experience I’ve had in 18 years of football.”

The visitors gave as good as they got, however, attempting to fight fire with fire. Evans picked up a booking for his protests in the match at Priestfield but so did one of the Wigan coaching team.

Visiting boss Leam Richardson said: “We had to meet them head on with what they’ve got. Steve plays a certain way and balls come into your box from different angles. Not many players take too many touches and they put you under pressure and you have to deal with it.”

Wigan looked decent at times and if they play like they did at Priestfield then they should stay up. Their finishing let them down on Wednesday. With a takeover complete they may well be challenging at the opposite end next season.

Evans certainly hopes they survive, saying: “Credit to the Wigan boys, they have a new owner and I think they will stay up. That would be great because no football club supporter deserves to have had the times they have had. I wish Leam [Richardson] and everyone at Wigan every success in trying to stay up.”

Gillingham are up to sixth in League 1 after Wednesday's win. Whether anyone else in the division has noticed, Evans doesn't care.

He said: "I have said it all my career, I don’t care what other managers think, or other chairman, I don’t care about anyone else except [Gills chairman] Paul Scally and Gillingham Football Club. We have to focus on ourselves."

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