Justin Edinburgh was thrilled to get the response he craved.

The Gills boss watched his team lose 1-0 at home to Barnsley on Saturday but bounced back in style.

Two goals from Cody McDonald either side of a Jake Hessenthaler effort sealed a 3-0 win at Swindon on Tuesday night.

Edinburgh said: “I learned a lot from the players in terms of a response from a Saturday’s set-back and I am delighted for them. They thoroughly deserved their victory.

“I found out a huge amount. We surrendered that unbeaten run we had been on and it ended disappointingly. I don’t think we did enough to win the game on Saturday but I am not sure we deserved to lose it.

“I see a lot of character from the players and a great response because when you have been on a good run sometimes it is difficult to overcome that and get back. We certainly showed the response I was looking for.”

The Gills set the tone from the off, harassing the Swindon players and ensuring they couldn’t settle into a rhythm.

Edinburgh said: “We spoke about (closing them down) and looked at it on the training ground. We knew we had to get about them because, if you sit off them they will play around you, as they are a good footballing side, hence the position they are in.

“We never allowed them to settle and when we did win it back we played very quickly and certainly caused them a lot of problems.”

McDonald’s opener came with a back-heel that even took the Gills boss by surprise.

“I was taken aback by it and wondered what he was doing,” he admitted.

“There was a chance earlier that for Cody, for him not to hit the target, he would have been disappointed.

“That is the character of the player and why he gets those goals. He has that awareness and that belief. It was a fine goal.”

A header from Hessenthaler doubled the lead and McDonald completed the win late on.

“He was told by his dad (assistant boss Andy Hessenthaler) at half-time to get into the box and he certainly did that,” said Edinburgh.

“t didn’t take him too long to reap the rewards. It was a great goal and the win was finished off with a nice calm finish from Cody.”