Steve Evans is still tipping ‘quality’ Posh for promotion despite throwing a huge spanner in the works at the Weston Homes Stadium

Sammie Szmodics in action for Posh against Gillingham. Photo: David Lowndes.

Evans, who was spoken to by match referee Sam Allison after clashing with Posh boss Darren Ferguson in the first-half of a 1-0 win for his side, insisted his side were worthy winners even if they rode their luck at times.

Connor Olgilvie struck the only goal of the game after Gillingham capitalised on a strong start to the game. The visitors then defended stoutly, while Posh missed a couple of great chances and struck the crossbar from a terrific Sammie Szmodics strike.

“My boys were terrific,” Evans told Kent Online. “We knew we would have to be at our best against Peterborough and to have a little bit of luck along the way and I think that summed it up. We were very good in what we set out to do. We were good tactically, good shape, we ran a lot and we had to hope that when they had good half chances they didn’t take them.

Jonson Clarke-Harris of Peterborough United in action with Jack Tucker of Gillingham. Photo: Joe Dentt/theposh.com.

“We didn’t go away with any other sense than it was a hard earned victory against a team I desperately hope will be playing in the Championship next year. Ideally they will be in the Championship and we go up in the play-offs, but it is a big stretch for us now. I think Posh will go up though. They are full of quality.

“Centre-backs Tucker and Cundy were great. They were having to deal with Clarke-Harris and Sammie Szmodics, a goal machine, and then I am looking at full-backs Connor Ogilvie and Ryan Jackson, up against Siriki Dembele and Joe Ward while my midfield were having to compete with two of the best in the league.

“My big striker has to deal with Frankie Kent, a £6-700k signing and Mark Beevers who has got more promotions out of this league than anyone I think as a player, and a brilliant manager. I know I had words with him, but he is brilliant.

“We rode out luck at times and they had a couple of half chances, but I think if we had lost it would have been harsh. “We have not conceded and that is tremendous. Credit to all of my players, they stood up and were in the trenches and they fought.”