Victory at Portsmouth was a boost for everyone, said Gillingham boss Steve Lovell.

The Gills had picked up just two points from their previous eight League 1 games before going to the unbeaten league leaders and pulling off a shock 2-0 win on Saturday.

“We knew that everyone would have to put a shift in, it was a great day,” said Lovell.

“We have to build on this now and hopefully it will give everyone a lift around the club.

“I don’t think a lot of people gave us a chance but we had belief in the camp and I am just happy for everyone that travelled to the game and for everyone connected with the club that we could put the result together.

“A lot of our performances this season haven’t been bad at all, there have been just a couple of performances where we haven’t played that well.

“We knew from the first three games that we were good enough to get results and then you lose momentum when you get injuries, or whatever, but this was a fantastic team effort.

“It is important we keep going. It is one result, one game, but we will build on it and we are looking forward to the game coming up in the week now (in the Checkatrade Trophy against Tottenham’s under-21s).”

Lovell has publicly criticised the team and certain individuals during the recent bad run, including striker Tom Eaves, who he left out of the starting eleven in the previous two games.

Eaves was back in from the start on Saturday and got Gills’ opening goal, scoring with a stunning volley.

Lovell said: “I have been quite critical of certain players in the last few weeks and I did that for a reason. Sometimes players do need a kick up the behind.”

And on the goal, he added: “It was brilliant. He turned his man, he knew exactly what he was going to do and he finished it off magnificently.

“Alex Lacey the same (for Gills' second goal), it was a great finish from the corner.

"It came at a great time just before half-time, but apart from the goals we scored, with the work rate we put in they worked their socks off for the cause.”