Mark Bonner was happy to come away with all three points as Gillingham beat Barrow 2-0 in their top-of-the-table clash at MEMS Priestfield Stadium, but said his side need to keep improving to maintain their current position.
Jayden Clarke and Robbie McKenzie scored in either half, with Bonner delighted with the manner in which both goals were scored.
Despite the win, the Gillingham boss was not entirely pleased with his side's performance, citing that they need to be better if they are to maintain the position that they are in. However, he was glad to see his side win without being at their absolute best.
Bradley Dack made his second league debut for the Football Club as a second-half substitute and the Gills boss said his minutes will gradually begin to build up.
The Gills have a quick turnaround to Tuesday's game against Grimsby Town and the manager is looking forward to getting back out on home turf.
The performance...
"I'm really happy that we have got a result and kept a clean sheet, but the good thing is that you can do that when you're not at your best. I think the game was quite an uncomfortable game, and it didn't need to be. It was an opportunity for us to be much more dominant with the ball, and we have given up some really sloppy moments. It became an open and transitional game in the first-half. We didn't want it to look like that.
"It was so stretched. We have ended up in the heat, running much bigger distances than we needed to in the game. The changing room is really pleased that we have got another clean sheet, another three points, and another home win. There's a bit of frustration, and thinking: 'Crikey lads, we're a better team than that, and let's show that level', which is not a bad situation to be in going into a game so quickly on Tuesday.
The goals...
[On the first goal] - "It was an outstanding goal. One of those moments where Jack [Nolan] has put his foot on the ball in our half and found a pass. We didn't give ourselves enough control of the ball for so many moments. It was too much of a counter-attacking game. That game did not need to look like that, so that was our frustration.
"Fair play, Robbie [McKenzie] travelled brilliantly. He has had loads of moments like that this season and in the pre-season. His selection of a pass was excellent because his probable and most obvious pass was Max Clark out at left-back, but he breaks the line and finds Jayden [Clarke] running in.
"Calm as you like from Jayden. A brilliant and really good bit of play and a lovely finish.
[The second goal] - "That goal, a well-worked one, that we tried to target, so we're really happy with that and with the outcome of the move. I think that it just shows what games can look like. That corner and goal came off a spell where we had about two or three long throws and two or three corners in a row, creating pressure around their box."
Looking to improve and keeping the foot on the pedal...
"I have definitely seen our performances and levels improve, and then with that, expectation gets greater. The only expectation that I am bothered about is mine and the teams and what we expect from each other. If we don't quite hit where we want to or don't quite get the outcomes that we want to in the game, then we call that out and try to get better.
"The ultimate outcome is to win the games, but there is a bigger process to that as well. We will lose games and be happy with the process of the performance, and we will win games and be unhappy with the process of the performance. Today is a bit of a meh. It is a really good result that we don't take for granted. I am happy with another win, but we want to stay where we are put our foot to the floor and keep improving."
On Bradley Dack...
"He did fine. It's just ticking off minutes at the moment. I think that's all it will be for him. We will be really sensible and slow with his return to the team. He might not feature at all on Tuesday to be ready for next Saturday. It will be that slow burner with him. When the season gets going is when we need everybody fit."
Looking ahead to Grimsby...
"We will get to work on that in about an hour, and that will be the one that we think about. We have to park this one really quickly and move on. The players have got to recover and get ready. We know that it is a busy period. It's another good opportunity with a home game to back that up, and we will want to be able to go back-to-back with Saturday-Tuesday.
"We will give them as much information as we feel that they need on the opposition, but we have to get ourselves right as well. We will try and use that turnaround the best way that we can. We will work on it tomorrow and give them the information that they need on Monday, and hope that when we turn up on Tuesday, we are at a really good level and that we are able to get another result."
