Peter Taylor hailed Bradley Dack’s “fantastic” strike.

But the Gills boss admitted the midfieder wasn’t doing it for him before that 18 minute goal.

Dack hit the back of the net, with a curling strike from the edge of the box, to set the Gills on course for a 2-0 win over Crewe at Priestfield.

“Bradley sets himself such a high standard,” said Taylor.

“He has got great energy and he is a clever player. But I didn’t actually think he was playing that well before he scored that and he gets a wonder goal. That’s what good players do.

“He carried on believing. Other players might have dropped their head (when things aren’t going for them) but he didn’t. He was confident that when that ball got to him he was going to bend it in. It was a fantastic goal.”

It capped an impressive week for Dack, who was named man-of-the-match in Gills’ narrow League Cup defeat on Tuesday.

Taylor said: “It was nice to get man-of-the-match against Newcastle United, that’s for sure.

“He wants to go all over the place, that’s the only problem with Brad and you have to calm him down. If I was allowed some reigns I would work him a bit wider at times but he wants to go all over the place.”

Dack has now started Gills’ last four games.

“I was confident that Bradley and Jake (Hessenthaler) would get more chances this year than last,” said Taylor.

“I think players pick the team themselves, I honestly do; it’s down to them. If they play well they are on the teamsheet.”