It’s a learning curve for boss Neil Harris after admitting Gillingham’s current formation is something he’s not had much experience with.

Harris chose to go with a five-man defensive unit after taking over as Gills manager and assessing what players he had at his disposal. The wing-back system is one he’s only used on rare occasions at former clubs Cardiff City and Millwall.

In his three games in charge of Gillingham it’s been the preferred system and it’s been paying off. Prior to his arrival the Gills lost 7-2 to Oxford and in the same month had conceded four against Ipswich, three at home to Burton and another three at Wigan.

With three positive performances since he took over and just one goal conceded it’s a system that is working for him.

He said: “While we are finding ways to score goals, and we are searching at the moment, defensively we have to be organised.

"I have never played a back five as a manager in seven years, it is the first time I have done it. I am doing it because it is what we have got available and we want to play senior players as well in key positions and protect areas.

“We have given them extra confidence and putting an extra player in the back line does that straight away.

“I am learning as well. I am learning about the shape and organisation of the players and the players are learning as we go, we are helping each other.

“I have played it the odd time, changed in-game to it, certainly against Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United sides because they are very good at it and give you a doing when you play 4-4-2, but it is the first time for a sustained period, of three games, that I have done it.

“I am learning about the players all the time, next week (with a free midweek) we will be able to sit back and assess what and how it has gone. All I can say to the players is one game at a time.

“I haven’t got time to over-think individual players. I want to improve people and improve the team but we need to make sure it is a team mentality and I just pick the right side and the right tactics.”