Manager Steve Lovell hopes Gillingham’s 4-0 win over Bradford is the start of better things to come.

The Gills boss saw his side overcome League 1's bottom side with a superb second-half display.

It came after a week of tough talking, following the dismal away defeat to Plymouth.

“It has been a very positive week, on and off the field,” said Lovell, having told some of his underperformers to stay away from the club.

“This week has been a very difficult week for me, because I have done certain things that are perhaps against my nature.

“I had to do it for the sake of the players. If they perform and do what they should do then it’s going to help me and the club.

“I think the fans can see what myself and my staff are trying to do with this football club.

“The chairman has been fantastic and he has supported me. All we want is success and for people to come and enjoy their football, they certainly will have done second half (on Saturday). Hopefully we can take that on and give them more wins.”

The Gills went into the weekend game just a point and a place off the bottom four.

There was no relief at the final whistle on Saturday, said Lovell, just joy.

“I was happy,” responded Lovell. “That 45 minutes of the second half, that was my team playing the way I like to play, and the way we started the season.

“Now with everyone coming back (from injury) I am looking forward to training this week and to next Saturday, I know the boys will be.

“It will be a week where Regan Charles-Cook, Brandon Hanlan and Billy Bingham can get fitter, Dean Parrett as well. This is something we can build on now.”

Lovell insisted the only pressure he was feeling before the weekend was from within.

“I put myself under pressure,” he said. “Even last year when we were on an unbeaten run, it doesn’t make any difference, because I want to win every game.

“I haven’t lost any sleep over it because it is something I feel like I can do and it is about getting the players to believe in it themselves.

“You need to have the right personnel in your team and around you, to make that happen and if you haven’t then there is no point being here, which is why I made the decisions I did.

“We can build from here. It’s one win, but one that could push us on now.”