Gillingham manager Mark Bonner described their weekend win as “massive” after seeing off well-fancied Chesterfield at Priestfield.
One goal was enough for the Gills – who finished with 10 men after Max Ehmer was dismissed – working hard for the 1-0 win and an unbeaten first month of the season.
Report: Gillingham 1 Chesterfield 0
“It was really hard,” said Bonner, following the win.
“The second half when the sending off happened, they didn’t create a huge amount of chances and our work ethic to stop them was amazing.
“We defended our box well enough, enough times. They came close a few times and hit the woodwork three times.
“The one at the end where we jump when we shouldn’t, everyone is running out of the box, they loop it back over and hits the bar, lands back in the melee. Shad (Ogie) overhead kicks it, it’s carnage! A bit of drama for the Rainham End.
“It’s a massive, massive result and to take 10 points from the first four games and three clean sheets on the bounce, with the circumstances, showing huge character.
“[We’ve had] two wins here, really good from us.
“They are a good side and you can see that.
“First half we had some really good bits, more comfortable in certain moments with the ball and high pressure that turned the ball over well.
“We had a horrible start, first few minutes we were honking and then after that we got going a bit, scored a superb goal and fair play.”
McKenzie scored what turned out to be the winner on eight minutes after heading in Jack Nolan’s free-kick.
Bonner said: “Deren (Ibrahim) and Pete (Gills) worked on those set-plays and the execution from Jack and Robbie and everyone else was very good.
“[Assistant Anthony Hayes) has done some great work on our pressing high up the pitch, we did something a bit different to stop them getting total control of the game and we did it relatively well in the first half. We did it brilliant on a few occasions.
“We had a bit more of the ball because of it and it was an everybody win really.
“It was a brilliant win for us.
“What I love seeing at the moment is that there is a togetherness in the team where whoever plays knows what they are doing and are working their socks off and whoever doesn’t start maybe they’re disappointed.
“You see every player on the pitch celebrating the win together, that is how you are going to build a good side.”
