Midfielder delighted to seal home victory.
Gills midfielder Stuart O’Keefe spoke to the press following the 3-2 win over MK Dons at the MEMS Priestfield Stadium.
It was a game that involved plenty of work off the ball for Gills as the visitors kept possession for long periods.
O’Keefe was delighted with the team’s performance and praised his teammates for their hard work.
The midfielder said: “It’s a hard-fought win. Everyone had to do their jobs, and everyone had to work their socks off. Credit to a man; we did that for the whole 90 minutes. We managed to get the win we deserved to get.”
O’Keefe was named man of the match for his second full 90 minutes in four days. Having missed the majority of the season with an injury, the 29-year-old is happy with his progress.
O’Keefe said: “It’s the best I’ve felt, to be honest. With such a long period out, I’ve started to come back, and I’ve had a few substitute appearances and a couple of starts. I’m starting to get back to my usual match fitness.
“Fitness is a big part of my game, and I can add energy and bite into that midfield. I think tonight is the best it’s been, so hopefully, it can improve.”
The visitors allowed Gills just a handful of touches in the opening ten minutes of the game as they enjoyed unchallenged possession.
Steve Evans changed the team’s formation, and O’Keefe knows it made an immediate impact.
He said: “We were in our shells and a bit taken back. We gave them too much respect, and we had to change shape. You could see, the second we changed our shape, we managed to get close to them and forced them into mistakes.”
The win has left the dressing room in a great mood, and O’Keefe realises that the extra work they had to put in to ensure they got all three points has added to their delight.
O’Keefe stated: “It’s a great feeling. Obviously, when you win, it’s the best feeling in football, so the boys are upbeat.
“When you get your rewards for working so hard, it makes it a little bit sweeter. We worked hard Saturday and didn’t get the three points, but we still got a good point.
“To get all three tonight makes it that little bit nicer.”