Manager Simon Grayson was delighted with his side’s 1-0 win over Gillingham, as Paul Huntington was the surprise hero, his 60th minute header the difference between the sides.
Speaking straight after the result at Priestfield the gaffer was delighted with the whole team display, he said: “There were a lot of excellent performances; collectively and individually.
“I thought the units worked well. We created a few chances; hit the woodwork a few times and made their keeper work. Everybody who was called upon tonight did their jobs.
“The defenders defended on a difficult night and conditions. The goalkeeper made some important saves for us and we always know that when we stay in the game against anybody we will create chances and we got the goal from someone you wouldn’t normally expect to score, so all round it was a good performance against a Gillingham team who tested us at times.”
The match-winner came in for praise having started his first league game of the season.
“Paul has not played a lot over the last year or so, but he has trained so hard,” continued the Lilywhites boss. “We had opportunities to go out to places, but he has worked hard and today he did everything he needed to defensively and his goal was a bonus.
“Tom Clarke was out through illness and then Scott Wiseman was a doubt from the weekend and we lost him in the warm up, so full credit to the lads who came into the team.
“Scott Laird came in to an unfamiliar role at right back, but I thought at times we controlled the game, got the ball down, passed it well and we earned another three points.
“We said to the team before the game that nights like to tonight can go a long way to getting to you where you want to get to and it was a good performance.
“Priestfield is never an easy place to come to, especially with the conditions, so you have to earn the right to win any football match. We battled and scrapped when we had to and then we passed the ball quickly when we needed to and got it into areas that hurt them.
“You are still anxious at 1-0 and hoping for that second goal to kill the game off, but in the end we saw the game through in a professional manner.
“We have learnt our lesson from a few weeks ago when we didn’t see a game out properly and since then we have improved from that night.”
On the night Joe Garner wore the armband and Grayson finished by praising his talisman and thanking the owner and fans.
“Joe put the armband on very well. He leads by example anyway, but with Tom Clarke not available he was the perfect solution to wear the armband.
“We are grateful to the owner for allowing us to fly down. It was a bit lively in the air and I’m sure it will be going back, but it has helped with the preparation and it allows us to recover and prepare for a tough game at the weekend.
“We are delighted for the fans as well. It is a massive commitment to come all this way on a difficult Tuesday night. They have to take time off work and pay a lot of money and to send that back with a positive result is fantastic.”
“I thought the units worked well. We created a few chances; hit the woodwork a few times and made their keeper work. Everybody who was called upon tonight did their jobs.
“The defenders defended on a difficult night and conditions. The goalkeeper made some important saves for us and we always know that when we stay in the game against anybody we will create chances and we got the goal from someone you wouldn’t normally expect to score, so all round it was a good performance against a Gillingham team who tested us at times.”
The match-winner came in for praise having started his first league game of the season.
“Paul has not played a lot over the last year or so, but he has trained so hard,” continued the Lilywhites boss. “We had opportunities to go out to places, but he has worked hard and today he did everything he needed to defensively and his goal was a bonus.
“Tom Clarke was out through illness and then Scott Wiseman was a doubt from the weekend and we lost him in the warm up, so full credit to the lads who came into the team.
“Scott Laird came in to an unfamiliar role at right back, but I thought at times we controlled the game, got the ball down, passed it well and we earned another three points.
“We said to the team before the game that nights like to tonight can go a long way to getting to you where you want to get to and it was a good performance.
“Priestfield is never an easy place to come to, especially with the conditions, so you have to earn the right to win any football match. We battled and scrapped when we had to and then we passed the ball quickly when we needed to and got it into areas that hurt them.
“You are still anxious at 1-0 and hoping for that second goal to kill the game off, but in the end we saw the game through in a professional manner.
“We have learnt our lesson from a few weeks ago when we didn’t see a game out properly and since then we have improved from that night.”
On the night Joe Garner wore the armband and Grayson finished by praising his talisman and thanking the owner and fans.
“Joe put the armband on very well. He leads by example anyway, but with Tom Clarke not available he was the perfect solution to wear the armband.
“We are grateful to the owner for allowing us to fly down. It was a bit lively in the air and I’m sure it will be going back, but it has helped with the preparation and it allows us to recover and prepare for a tough game at the weekend.
“We are delighted for the fans as well. It is a massive commitment to come all this way on a difficult Tuesday night. They have to take time off work and pay a lot of money and to send that back with a positive result is fantastic.”