Rochdale 0 Gillingham 2: Reaction from Gills boss Neil Harris after League 2 win at Spotland

Manager Neil Harris praised his Gillingham side’s professional performance after seeing off Rochdale on Saturday.

The Gills were up against a side fighting for their Football League status but bossed the first 45 minutes - scoring one and missing a couple more - before adding a second goal during a more testing second half when the hosts threw caution to the wind.

Harris said: “It was a professional display against a team that are fighting for their lives and who had to beat us to try and catch us.

“We knew they would scrap and fight and we knew they could play it up to (strikers) Scott Quigley and Ian Henderson and do that well and they could also make some passes, a team that has been really unlucky to be where they are in the league.

“We knew we would have to do the basics really well in the conditions as well [it was a wet day in Lancashire]. I am really pleased with the players, their attitude and mentality, the players that came into the team were very good and lads who came out of the team were even better because they understand I have to rotate.

“We scored good goals, at key moments, first half we were excellent, we took care of the ball when we had it. Second half we turned it over too cheaply and when they threw caution to the wind and put four or five players in their front line against our back four then it became difficult on the overload.

“It was a strong display and I said to the lads we are very 45 minutes, 45 minutes we were excellent, second 45 not so good. (Against) Mansfield (we were) okay for 45-50 minutes, not the rest, Grimsby poor first half and very good second and so on. We have to change that 45-50-minute mentality to 55-60 and build it up until we become the finished article.”

The Gills are