Gillingham defender John Egan praised the match-winning performance of substitute Jermaine McGlashan.

Winger McGlashan was dropped to the bench for the visit of Coventry but Egan was impressed by the player’s attitude as he inspired a Gills fightback.

McGlashan was a threat down the right flank for the final 20 minutes, winning a penalty and scoring Gills’ third goal in a 3-1 win at Priestfield.

Egan said: “Jermaine was left out of the eleven and it is very hard to take not being in the team.

“He showed his mental strength so that when he came on he was going to make a difference. You could see that when he came on.

“He wanted the ball all of the time and he got at the left-back. He won the game for us, essentially, if you look at it that way. I am happy for him.

“He came on, showed what he could do and every player should be like that. In or out of the team, you should always have the belief that you can change the game.”

Saturday’s win ended a run of three successive league defeats for the Gills and lifted them out of the League 1 relegation zone.

“We are relieved more than anything because we have done well in the last few weeks,” said the centre-back, who sported a bandage for most of the game after picking up a gash to the head.

“We always believed we had the ability in the changing room to go out and beat teams. We showed that.

“At 1-0 down we never gave up and conceded an unfortunate penalty that could have gone either way.

“Jermaine McGlashan came on and made a huge difference but all in all everyone stuck together and played really well. We thoroughly deserved the win.”