Ady Pennock hailed the ‘massive’ win for the Gills over Charlton.

It was a victory that took the Gills off the bottom of the table and lifted a little pressure off head coach Pennock.

“It is a great feeling and fully deserved,” said Pennock.

“It was a perfect response from us and we did all our talking on the pitch, which is great.

Report: Gillingham 1 Charlton Athletic 0

Done deal: Former skipper joins Southend

“They threw the kitchen sink at us (near the end of the game) and we defended for our lives. It was good, a massive three points.”

It was a first league win of the season for the Gills, after eight attempts.

Pennock said: “I felt relief but I was just pleased for everyone involved at the club, all the way down to the lady who does the teas, Malcolm (the kitman) and the fans.

“it’s a relief, of course, but I am a human being as well, I listen and hear things, and it hurts, but the most important thing is the football club and the three points, that is what it is all about.

“It will be very nice to come in on Monday morning knowing we have got a win, that’s for sure.”

Tom Eaves was the man to score the winning goal, to cap a hard-working performance.

The Gills boss said: “He is like a Duracell battery. He just keeps going on and on.

“Even on Tuesday (at AFC Wimbledon), I was thinking about taking him off, he was breathing out of his backside, but then he did a one two with Josh Parker, had a shot and the keeper saves it! He just keeps going on and on.

“We knew that when we signed him, he has a huge heart, massive, so has everyone in that changing room. It was nice for Tom to score.”

The Gills were also indebted to keeper Tomas Holy, once more impressing between the sticks.

“He was top drawer but he is there to save them,” said the manager.

“He has been brilliant and he will only get better. He will make mistakes, he is a young man, learning his trade, but he has great tools.”