Danny Lloyd helped turn the tide for Gillingham on Tuesday after an all-action display off the bench and now the forward is eager for more.

Summer-signing Lloyd came on at the break after a tough first 45 for the Gills against Charlton, but it was all-change after the turnaround, with the left-sided attacker playing a key role. Only the woodwork denied him from scoring a winner.

Lloyd has only made two league starts since his move to Priestfield but the fans got a glimpse of what he can do in an exciting match against Charlton.

He said: “I knew I would have to be patient coming in, I know how the gaffer works, I am just happy to be on the pitch whenever selected. Hopefully the performance has given the gaffer something to think about.

“All I can do is be patient, keep working hard in training and then when I get a chance on the pitch hopefully I can put in a very similar performance to that. That is my game, getting wide and getting crosses in, dipping in and linking up, like I did with Gerald (Sithole) for the chance that hit the post. I am ready to go wherever called upon and whenever needed.”

The Gills were a different beast in the second half against Charlton and Lloyd had linked up with Dempsey for the equaliser from a short corner. He was desperately unlucky not to have put his side ahead.

Fellow half-time sub Sithole laid the ball into his path and an arrowed shot from Lloyd struck the post as a vociferous Rainham End were primed to take the roof off.

Lloyd admitted he was almost off celebrating himself.

He said: “That is as good as I will ever hit the ball from there. There was not much more I could have done but I would have much more preferred it to have a been a knee, chin, toe into the bottom corner, but it was unlucky.

“I was off when I hit it, I thought it was in, but I think I hit it too straight and if I had cut across it a bit then it bends in, but I hit it straight on and it went like a bullet, with a little wobble at the end and onto the post.”

The win wasn’t to be for the Gills but Lloyd hopes they can now build on that impressive second 45.

He said: “We were full of energy, determination, we played some nice stuff at times and we got our little bit of luck after putting in the effort for the goal [it went in off a defender after hitting the post] but it was a well-worked short corner from myself and Demps and we got that little but of luck to get back into the game and then we were very unlucky not have won 2-1.

“I don’t think they were expecting the way we came out second half, they were shell-shocked the first 15-20 minutes, but that is what we are capable of, we have some really good attacking footballers in this team.”

Few in the team have experienced a big-night atmosphere like there was on Tuesday while playing for the Gills. A crowd of more than 7,000 - including over 2,000 Charlton fans - made for plenty of noise and there was no shortage of attacking action to get excited about.

“It was electric,” said the 29-year-old. “Last season I was playing for a big club in Tranmere Rovers and I didn’t get to play infront of a packed stadium but that was as good as I have played there, that was electric. They brought a lot of fans but I didn’t really hear them in the second half.

“Our fans were constant throughout and really gave us a lift, especially when we were on top. You win corners and they get right behind you. I don’t think fans realise how important they are, especially when we are trying to suffocate a team. They are really important and I want to thank everyone who went. They were the 12th man, an old saying, but true as ever.

“The lads react to those fans and it is superb support, it has been brilliant since I have been here.”