Tom Eaves delivered something special at the weekend and he’s hoping it’s a sign of things to come.

The 26-year-old striker scored Gills’ opener at Portsmouth, a goal-of-the-season contender, firing home on the volley.

It was a goal out of nothing and that is something he’s been hoping to bring back into his game.

“I was just trying to create something,” he said.

“I know when I get the ball in the box I always feel I am going to score.

"I did something quite similar to it in training and it was already in the back of my mind.

“I am just trying to bring a bit of ingenuity into my game. I felt like I lost it a bit, when you start off in your career and you play those development games.

"It is something I am trying to bring back into my game, trying to be unpredictable.

“I study different centre-forwards and I am constantly watching videos of people creating stuff in and around the box. It is nice to do that and thankfully it came off.

His goal on the swivel, after hooking the ball over his own head, was reminiscent of some of the goals scored by Dutch legend Dennis Bergkmap.

“He was one of those I have studied,” said the six-goal striker.

“There were a lot of strikers coming through in the 90s when I was watching football growing up, the likes of Didier Drogba and people like that, I just constantly watch the videos and try and implement it into my game as much as possible.

“Strikers like Gianfranco Zola and more modern strikers like Robert Lewandowski, just real goalscorers, people who are getting in the right areas and being creative.”

Eaves started Saturday's match after being named on the bench in the previous two. A last-minute goal against Shrewsbury the previous weekend helped him win a place back in the starting 11.

“I am very pleased on a personal level,” he said.

“I always feel I am going to score when I get opportunities in those areas. It is nice to be able to express myself and thankfully it came off. On another day it might not. It did and I am grateful for it.”

The shock 2-0 win over League 1 leaders Portsmouth should also give the team a lift.

“This is just the start of it now,” said Eaves.

“We can really kick on and it shows what we can do on our day.

"The lads were brilliant from back to front, we defended well and we were so solid at the back.

"We didn’t look like we were going to concede and when you see that you can get momentum as a team and I felt like all of the lads were outstanding. It showed what we can do.”