Gillingham passed a major test on Saturday.

Steve Evans’ men lost 1-0 to Ipswich but caused the visitors enough problems to leave the manager satisfied.

He was using the game as a yardstick to test just how good his newly-assembled side were.

Evans said: “We have to look at our performances and they are getting better week by week.

“When you come home with a point from Bristol Rovers (on Tuesday) and lose on Saturday people will say a point from six is no good but in reality we should have won at Bristol and we should have won on Saturday.

“I said before the game that it would be a real benchmark for us and that is a good one.

"They are a good side and you don’t get any better than the league leaders.

“We are getting some consistency in our performances, control of the game is getting better – you could see that. We dominated Ipswich second half.

“We were most unfortunate not to win (against Ipswich), never mind drawing. We will get back on the training ground and work hard, that is what this group will do.”

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Gills’ players on show at the weekend certainly gave their all and it’s what Evans demands.

He said: “Every player we signed, we said the minimum you have to do is work hard, in training and in games, or we shout at you.

“We shout because we are encouraging them and if they are not prepared to work hard we don’t want them around.

“We have players giving us absolutely everything and we promise we give them absolutely everything in return. We go and scout players or watch videos, to pass knowledge on and improve our players.

“There is no doubt we will be okay throughout the season.”

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