GILLS boss Ronnie Jepson was able to breathe a sigh of relief and take some of the heat off himself and the players following the 2-1 win over Walsall.

Jepson admitted it wasn’t the best of performances, after an agonising wait for the final whistle, but a win was all that mattered after opening the season with four straight defeats.

"It was a relief for the players and I’m pleased for them as well as the supporters," said Jepson. "The results have been bad and you accept the criticism.

"I’ve stuck by the boys, I haven’t slaughtered them and I haven’t blamed them, I’ll take that myself. The players have been smashing for me.

"It wasn’t pretty because Walsall threw caution to the wind but with everything that’s gone on and gone against us it was a credit to them.

"I’m so pleased for them because of all the hard work they put in during pre-season. I’m just pleased we got three points on the board.

"If we aren’t performing and aren’t getting points we’re going to get flak and I understand that, but if you look at it as a whole with what’s gone on, the first four or five games have been quite incredible.

"I haven’t really gone in depth about that, I haven’t made excuses, we’ve worked hard and the boys have stuck at it."

Jepson was forced into naming several players who were short of full fitness, including two-goal hero Mulligan.

"Gary Mulligan’s been on the treatment table most of the week," said Jepson.

"He’s come off the treatment table and run himself into the ground for me and gets two goals into the bargain.

"That epitomises the spirit within the camp at the moment."