Gillingham boss Neil Harris described trouble in the players’ tunnel at Stevenage as ‘good old fashioned football.’

It initially kicked off at the break after Stevenage boss Steve Evans claimed he was insulted by a Gills player, believed to have been Scott Kashket. As the players and staff went into the dressing room area, away from the crowd, a scuffle broke out and referee Carl Boyeson could be heard blowing his whistle to calm the situation.

Boyeson spoke to both managers before the start of the second half and for both Evans and Harris, it was quickly forgotten.

“It was good old fashioned football,” said Harris. “There were some frank views, it happens in football, it’s the passion from me and my staff that they (the players) might want to replicate on the pitch now and again.

“I think you saw a little more fight in my players second half when they came out at the start.”

Evans explained his part, saying: “I was on the pitch going to see the referee, I was going to ask him why Danny Rose had not had any yellow cards against him, because he had been fouled from start to finish. One of their players walked by me and called me a name, it is water off a duck’s back, I wasn’t getting involved in that.

“They are fighting for their own personal careers when you are bottom of League 2, I was just waiting to see Carl Boyeson but it was a tough game for him as well, we can’t forget that.

“I was away and I think it was a couple of big lads that came down and had a discussion, one of their big boys and one of our big boys, I don’t think there were any blows, from what I was told. I think there were loud voices, but to be fair to Carl he went in and sorted it out very quickly from what they tell me.

“Carl spoke to me and Neil before the start of the second half, there had been a lot of huffing and puffing and shouting, but nothing that they had seen that was untoward so if that is what the referee says and that is what the players are telling me then you have to believe them, I was away, looking to see what was happening at Sixfields!”

Stevenage’s win, coupled with a defeat by leaders Leyton Orient at Northampton, meant the gap at the top of League 2 was closed to two points.