Wigan Athletic 'will stay up' - Steve Evans

Despite dominating the majority of a prickly encounter in the south east, Latics failed to make the most of several decent chances.

And they paid the ultimate price when Vadaine Oliver headed in the only goal with 14 minutes to go.

The win took the Gills into the top six, with their eyes set on promotion to the Championship.

But Evans felt Wigan did well and will do enough in the last eight matches to avoid the drop to League Two.

“Credit to the Wigan boys, they have a new owner and I think they will stay up," he said.

"That would be great because no football club supporter deserves to have had the times they have had.

"I wish Leam [Richardson] and everyone at Wigan every success in trying to stay up."

Evans and his staff made it an uncomfortable evening for their Latics counterparts.

Latics club doctor Jonathan Tobin called it 'the least pleasant bench experience I’ve had in 18 years of football', with the official repeatedly having to come and over and, eventually, brandishing yellow cards for both sides.

Leam Richardson also made reference to it in his post-match press conference, but Evans was unrepentant.

"I have said it all my career, I don’t care what other managers think, or other chairman," he said.

"I don’t care about anyone else except (Gillingham chairman) Paul Scally and Gillingham Football Club.

"We have to focus on ourselves."

Get 20% off our sports subscription package and stay up to date with all the latest Wigan Athletic news with a year’s subscription to WiganToday for less than 9p a day. Use promo code TRANSFER20