Gillingham manager Gareth Ainsworth refutes the suggestion his team were under the cosh during win against League 2 leaders Crewe Alexandra

Gillingham manager Gareth Ainsworth admitted his side will take plenty from beating League 2 leaders Crewe.

While the visitors hit the woodwork four times and missed an open goal at Priestfield, Gillingham had more than twice the number of goal attempts as Crewe.

It means the Gills boss dismissed the suggestion that his team had to stay in the game at times.

“I don't think staying in it,” he responded. “I don't think we were under the cosh, like sometimes they were under the cosh in the second half. But the Rainham End helps that.

“You feel like you're away from home and defending all the time because of the Rainham End.

“You've got to realise how important they are. So, I don't think we're under the cosh, but they had the breakaway threat.

“We looked at it in midweek and they break really quickly. So, we did a lot of work on making sure that we were very good on the counter-press and stopped any quickly played forward balls.

“We still got done a couple of times, down the wings, crosses coming in, which you're going to do in football.

“So, at half-time, myself and Richard Dobson (assistant), we used the tactics board and just put in a little tweak. I'm not going to obviously say what that was, but a tiny tweak.

“Second half, we were much better. I think to the extent that Crewe needed a break at times.

“They're a good side. You've got some good players there. Tommi O'Reilly’s on loan from Aston Villa. I had him at Shrewsbury and he’s a very good player and when they get it to him, he can be very dangerous. March up front has been very good for them and they’re solid at the back.

“They've turned some teams over. They've turned Fleetwood over 4-1 and they beat Salford away.

“They're a very good side so we take a lot from