Gillingham goalkeeper Glenn Morris felt their opposition’s pre-match decision backfired on them.

In both of their home games this season the visiting team have opted to turn the teams around from the kick-off, denying the Gills their customary preference to shoot towards the Rainham End in the second half.

But it’s done neither team any good so far - Carlisle lost 4-1 in the season opener - with Chesterfield unable to break Gillingham’s resolve while attacking the home end after the break, unable to score even with a man advantage. Gills won 1-0 on Saturday.

With a packed Rainham End behind Morris in the second half, he felt the crowd was a factor in their win.

“I think it probably helped,” said Morris.

“Both teams have come here and turned us around. They probably feel it’s a weapon for us but it’s probably helped us.

“Down to 10 men and in the last 10 minutes I remember hearing them and it really pushes you.

“I think the boys are really putting in a shift and running around and if you have that Rainham End helping out, it’s like having another man as well.

“We’ll see what the next team does but at the end of the day we’re at home and we like playing here and that’s all that matters.”

Manager Mark Bonner feels the turnaround has done them no harm.

He said: “We have defended that in both games now so hopefully people stop turning us around!

“Actually, the way the game went we needed them in the second half.

“At the end, when you are defending and need real concentration and extra motivation to stop them and keep the ball out of the net the noise in certain moments of the last 20 minutes was unreal.”

Morris was back between the sticks after an injury to first-choice keeper Jake Turner.

At 40 years and eight months, Morris is the oldest player to pull on a Gills shirt, but he’s feeling good. He has 23-year-old Fulham keeper Luca Ashby-Hammond as his new challenger for the shirt.

He said: “It is a great union here. We want everyone to do well as a team and a goalkeeping collective. If Jake plays and keeps a clean sheet me and Taite (Holtam) are really pleased for him and as a group we feel we have done our bit. I am sure that will happen if I play or he (Luca) plays.

“We want to keep clean sheets and winning games. The main goal is Gillingham doing well, not just us.

“I feel good and in a good space if called upon.

“I probably feel fitter than I have done for a long time and Deren (Ibrahim, the goalkeeper coach) has done brilliant for me. He has been able to keep me ready and I train as hard as anyone.

“I am in a position ready to play and I feel good.”

Gillingham rode their luck at times as weekend visitors Chesterfield had a goal disallowed for offside and hit the woodwork three times.

Morris didn’t have many saves to make, however.

He said: “We didn’t start the game great, they got at us early doors, we gave away a few fouls away and they hit the crossbar with the free-kick, but we grew into the half. I felt like we were creating chances and stamping our authority on the game.

“Second half we hit the post with a header and Max Ehmer got sent off. Those can be turning points in games but the togetherness from the boys, pulling together and sticking together as a group to make sure we didn’t let a goal in, that’s all we had to do.

“It was a real team performance and I’m delighted to get a clean sheet and a win.”