Justin Edinburgh took immense satisfaction from seeing his depleted Gillingham side take maximum points with a 1-0 win against Doncaster.

Injury issues meant he had to delay picking his team until just a few hours before kick-off.

Brennan Dickenson and Adedeji Oshilaja failed fitness tests in the build-up to the game, both with knee injuries, while a thigh injury meant John Egan couldn’t be risked.

It left three of his back four out but the Gills still managed to keep a clean sheet.

“That was our best three points of the season,” hailed the Gills boss.

“If you look at the disruption we had before kick-off, to lose three of our back four in quick succession and prior to the game and put a centre midfielder (Doug Loft) in at centre-half, it was a credit to the group.

“They have answered a lot of questions and they are coming up with the right answers. I am absolutely delighted; I think it was our best win of the season.”

Striker Luke Norris only reported back in on Friday after missing a week’s training with laryngitis.

Dickenson and Oshilaja had knocks carried over from the game at Peterborough but both were looking set to play.

“We didn’t have any concerns but unfortunately they didn’t pass their fitness tests,” Edinburgh said.

Jake Hessenthaler hit Gillingham’s winner on 66 minutes – a decision visiting boss Paul Dickov said left his team flabbergasted.

Mitchell Lund felt he had cleared the shot off the line but assistant referee Gavin Muge flagged for a goal.

“The official’s flag went up immediately and he must have been convinced that the ball had crossed the line,” said Edinburgh, speaking before reviewing the goal on the DVD.

“You don’t normally get linesman giving those decisions so he must have felt it quite clearly crossed the line.”

Gillingham’s other two injuries on the day were not long term. Luke Norris went off with severe cramp while Bradley Dack will require stitches to a hand injury after accidently being trodden on.