Gillingham players earned themselves Christmas Day off with a win over Rochdale on Saturday.

Boss Steve Evans promised them a day off from training if they could bring all three points back to Kent and they did it in style, winning the game 4-1.

The Gills were determined to bounce back from successive League 1 defeats but they had extra incentive at Rochdale.

Evans said: “The carrot I gave them before the game was that they would have Christmas Day at home with their families, subject to three points, nothing else.

“When I said to the players they had Christmas Day off you could see their eyes lift! They have deserved it.

“It is their reward for three points and that win is for the Gills fans because what they watched in the last few weeks hasn’t been so good but they will have enjoyed it.

“I said before the game, regardless of the performance, if we come away with three points the players could have the day with the most important people, not me or Paul Scally, it’s their loved ones, especially in these times.

“They will be back in Boxing Day and we can then get ready for Northampton (on December 29) which will be very tough.

“My daughter text me to say it will be wonderful to have Christmas Day at home and on the back of that performance it gives everyone a lift, that gave me a lift.”

Gillingham are without a game on Boxing Day after their match with Peterborough United was postponed following a positive Covid test for their opponents.

The Gills finished the day six points off the play-off places, five points better than at the same stage last season.

“We are in a good place,” said Evans.

“The boys have done great, we can go away and plan now without a banging headache because our performances in the last few have given me a headache, and that’s like every manager when it’s not quite right.”

Read more on the Gills;

Report: Rochdale 1 Gillingham 4

Reaction: Boss hails wonderful display