Gillingham manager Justin Edinburgh felt it was vital to go into their long break on the back of a victory.

They’re 16 days without a game before travelling to Bolton for a live TV match on Monday, December 12.

Defeat by Rochdale would have meant a fortnight of frustration but it’s a happy camp after three wins in four matches.

Edinburgh said: “It was hugely important. We spoke about it leading up to the game.

"Sixteen days gives us a good period to condition the players again. We’ve been plagued with injuries.

“We could still continue that but what that positive result will mean is that no one’s downbeat. It had a huge meaning on the 16 days.”

There’s an argument Gills would rather keep playing having hit form but Edinburgh believes the break will help rather than hinder.

He said: “You always want everything but you’re never going to get that but hopefully this couple of weeks will benefit us long-term in terms of regrouping and conditioning the group to look for the busy Christmas period and beyond.

“It gives us an opportunity to get some work probably off the grass a bit, within the gym, within the physiotherapy, a lot of conditioning because it’s a good period for us to get things right.

“We’ve had a lot of games in a short space of time.

“We’ve just got to make sure we get the balance right, which we’ve worked on, and I think we’ll get that spot on.”