Gillingham manager Gareth Ainsworth dedicated Saturday’s win to the coaching staff who have held the fort in his absence.
Ainsworth had missed the previous four league games while recovering from major heart surgery, but was back watching in the flesh on Saturday, as his team ended a seven-game winless run.
Report: Bristol Rovers 0 Gillingham 1
Max Clark came up with the winner, striking home on the volley early in the second half, a goal which made amends for his penalty attempt in the first half that had been comfortably saved.
The Gills overcame a few scares late on to preserve the 1-0 lead and shoot back up to sixth in the table - still four points off top spot.
Ainsworth - who watched from high up in the main stand at the Memorial Stadium - said: “It was very different seeing it from up there!
“It's nice that the stats have gone against us and we've won a game because we've had the stats so with us and the xG so with us and not won those games. I said it would even itself out.
“I’m really proud. I had an emotional moment up in the gantry there. Being back is a big thing for me.
“Those boys in the dugout, [assistant manager] Dobbo and all the crew, all the staff, that's for them that win.
“They've stepped up when I've not been there and they've had it rough. They've had some decisions to go against them and some performances that we should have won and not won.
“I think they deserved that and I'm so glad that they experienced that in front of the fans who were immense.
“I’m not sure when I’ll be back in the dugout but performances like that means I don't have to rush back too much and can sit up with my analyst, Jack. We had a nice embrace at the end of the game, because he worked so hard in my absence as well.
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