Micky Mellon praises Shrewsbury Town

Town are just three points from safety in League One after leading through Sullay Kaikai (16) and the recalled Andy Mangan (56).

That was only to be pegged back by Cody McDonald (45) and Jake Hessenthaler on the hour, before Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro sealed their first win in eight in the 81st minute.

Just like against Bradford last week, Town withstood fierce pressure with captain Nathaniel Knight-Percival imperious only to emerge with an unlikely result.

It gives their survival push a huge shot in the arm as Gillingham dominated. Mellon said: "I was delighted in terms of the win and the battling qualities that we knew we had to bring.

"Credit to Gillingham because they put us under a lot of pressure and I lost count of how many free kicks there was - I think the Guinness Book of Records should have been here.

"We had to defend free kick after free kick so it was tough. The story of the game was how well we were going to defend them and could we catch them on the break? We managed to do that."

Town scored from virtually every chance they created, with Kaikai involved in all three goals, and Mellon lauded his front players for being so clinical.

He said: "That's how you've got to be prepared to do it in these leagues - be tough at the break, be difficult to score against and then be clinical.

"We've got some good players in Sullay Kaikai, Andy Mangan and Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro. I felt they were a constant threat and that any ball played in behind Gillingham.

"They were clinical so it was a good afternoon's work from the boys."

Gillingham came back twice and Mellon admitted he always thought there would be twists and turns in a see-saw game.

He said: "I just had a sneaking instinct there was more in the game so we tried not to get too frustrated or carried away.

"We lost a goal at the worst possible time to a free kick that wasn't by the way just before half-time and then the team talk was very different.

"But they've got a great togetherness and they keep fighting and we got ourselves ahead again through Andy Mangan, then we lost the equaliser and then Jean-Louis got the winner, so it was terrific."

Ian Black, who replaced Mangan in the 84th minute, was carried off on a stretcher after the final whistle after falling on his neck but he was later able to walk back off the pitch.

A club statement said: "Black landed awkwardly on his neck so was immobilised to ensure he was OK. He was checked out and then walked back to the bus OK."

James Wallace didn't travel after landing awkwardly on his knee in training and jarring it.