Gillingham’s passing game in the first half at Bristol Rovers was a joy to be part of for defender Max Ehmer.

Gills kept the ball on the deck and were rewarded with an early goal and a first-half lead, which was doubled after the break.

It got tense in the latter stages, as the Gills came under increasing pressure but Ehmer and his team-mates managed to see the win home.

Ehmer said: “The first half was probably one of the most enjoyable first halves I have had, this season certainly. Giving it to DJ (Oldaker), him getting on the ball and spraying it about. It was good to watch, being involved and watching the build-up.

“We want to play and we showed that, especially first half. The day before the manager said to us, ‘just play, what’s the worst thing that could happen? You could lose, but nothing really bad is going to happen, just play football’.

“That is what everyone wants to do, we are good enough to do it.

“First half we controlled the game, maybe not in terms of chances but the way we got on the ball, we were switching it, DJ got on the ball and we got our goal from Listy. It was a great finish.”

Gillingham had to play 20 minutes, plus an extra eight of stoppage-time, with 10 men following Callum Reilly’s dismissal.

Ehmer said: “We knew it was then going to be backs to the wall and we held on well. You just have to keep your shape and sit behind the ball and almost suck up the pressure.

”We conceded a goal, which was frustrating but we held on well. There were bodies on the line and about eight at the back at one point. It was not the best way to win, but it felt like a proper victory. We’re happy.”

Looking ahead to Sunday and a trip to non-league Slough in the FA Cup, Ehmer hopes he’s not on the end of another day to forget,

He said: “It is a massive game. Those games are always hard. It is their cup final and they are playing against a League 1 team.

“They want to show what they can do against us and we have to go into that with the right attitude and mentality, otherwise they are difficult games. I have had them here, like Brackley. You have to be 100% on it and we will be.”