New Gillingham boss Stephen Clemence admitted to having sleepless nights before his first game in charge.

With only two training sessions to prepare his adopted team, there was little time to work with the players, but he was delighted with what he saw in a 2-0 FA Cup win over National North outfit Hereford.

Report: Hereford 0-2 Gillingham

“I am really pleased and happy,” said the coach. “I came into this role on Wednesday and I could have probably said, ‘go on, someone else take the game’ and I could have watched, but I felt that wasn’t right.

“I felt it was good to get straight involved with the boys and I think if I hadn’t of taken it they would have been looking at me saying ‘oh you didn’t fancy this one?!’ I wanted to get straight in there and take the game.

“I was worried because of the preparation, that we hadn’t done as much as I would have liked, what we would normally have done going into a game in previous roles.

“I haven’t slept easy the last few nights because it was working out what we could get into them and what we would have to leave out, what we did get into them the lads took it on board and I think the character was fantastic, they gave their lot for each other and that is what they have to do to win football matches.

“I have had only had two days to work with the team, one day attacking and one day on defending, to try and get some shape into them. Some of the stuff in the first half was some of what we had worked on, so we can show that back to the lads next week and the learning will be extended and hopefully they will get better from that.”

The Gills bossed the first half with Jayden Clarke’s deflected effort putting them infront and Connor Mahoney hitting the post. Plenty of others chances went close before Hereford upped their game after the break.

Despite the pressure, the Gills keeper wasn’t overly troubled and Tom Nichols wrapped it up late on, converting from the penalty spot after the home keeper had fouled him.

Clemence said: “It was not an easy game on a really wet day, the pitch was really heavy, a slope on the pitch. Before the game there were quite a few puddles and there was a doubt at one stage over whether it would even be on but the lads showed great character.

“They played some great football first half and then they had to play a different way second half and fair play to Hereford, they put us under a bit of pressure but they didn’t really create much.

“I saw a real strength of character in the second half. When you go away from home and you’re 1-0 up and the opposition put you under pressure, you have to stand firm and it doesn’t matter if the team is two divisions below or in your league. The lads stood firm and we got one on the break.

“That pleased me, but then some of the stuff going forward in the first half when we were getting round the side of the box and getting crosses in, little bits of different play, overlaps, underlaps etcetera, that pleased me as well.

“I am happy to be in the next round and looking forward to seeing who we draw next.”