Town manager Joe Royle praised his "outstanding" side after they came from behind to beat Gillingham 3-1 at the Priestfield Stadium. Tommy Miller, Pablo Couñago and Marcus Bent scored the Blues' goals.

Royle was particularly pleased with the display on a poor Gills' pitch: "Our performance was outstanding on a crumbling pitch but we passed the ball well and how we came in only level at half-time I do not know.

"I was a little bit worried that we would be short of defenders when Thomas Gaardsøe went off with a groin strain but Chris Makin and Richard Naylor were outstanding.

"It is only two defeats for us in 20 games and any other time by now we would be in the top six already. We have just got to keep going and try to win games and can't cater for what other teams do.

"We have got goals in us when we are at our best and we have come from behind many times and you can't fault the spirit of my guys.

"Even last week against Brighton we were behind with five minutes to go and got an equaliser, and there have been seven or eight other times when we have been behind this season and they kept going."

Royle says he talked to his squad late this week: "Having to sell two players, it's been an uncertain week but we spoke with the players on Friday to tell them that was all in the past. We have got a six-game season left, don't get mixed up in the politics and you can unpack your cases because no one else is going anywhere."

Gillingham manager Andy Hessenthaler though his side had periods where they played well: "I think we had some good spells in the game and played some good stuff but we looked tired at times as well. At 1-1 it looked as though we were the only side who were going to score, and if we had got that second goal perhaps we would have gone on and won the game.

"Goals change games and their second goal gave them a lift and we seemed to drop our heads. Then they got the third and the game was over and it was the same old story as over the last few weeks with up and down results."

"We have had a fantastic season and we don't want to spoil it now. The players have been great and we just need to get a few players back. I thought we missed big Mama Sidibe [away with Mali] today because I think he would have caused Ipswich a lot of problems."

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