Joey Barton delighted with Fleetwood Town win in extraordinary circumstances as Gillingham take extra Covid precautions

The Gills had raised concerns over possible coronavirus infection in the Fleetwood camp after Town visited Accrington Stanley on Tuesday - Stanley have since confirmed that eight of their players have tested tests and their game against Bristol Rovers on Saturday was postponed.

There were even suggestions on Saturday morning of the Gillingham v Fleetwood game not going ahead, though Barton was pleased it did as goals by Paddy Madden and Ched Evans secured Town's first away win of the League One season.

Barton said: "It always is an eventful afternoon when you play Steve (Evans) and his side. You know what you’re going to get from him.

“The nonsense of it before the game as well ... I think they were trying to get it called off this morning."

Of the makeshift changing facilities, Barton said: "Then we came here two hours before the game and they’ve launched us in the club shop, with no showering facility. We had to sit in the concourse as the staff."

Gillingham also took extra social-distancing precautions in the dugouts, moving the teams further apart on the touchline.

Barton added: "The EFL and the referees helped and got us some parity in a touchline position.

“ I think if people try to get you off your game, then it’s a great sign of respect.

“The ultimate sign of respect is to try and get you at it, and I thought in the end we were relatively comfortable, as much you can be here.

“They’re a very professional outfit who play for set-pieces and put the ball in the box. It works for Steve and it’s been successful for him over the years.

“It’s tough to play against but thankfully the lads managed to keep a clean sheet and take maximum points.”

Gillingham boss Evans told the Kent Messenger: "They have really put all the players and staff at this football club under enormous pressure leading into the game.

"You cannot, as a Football League board, allow Accrington Stanley to have... positive cases and send Fleetwood, from a tier three area without a test, to the county of Kent and put people in hotels at risk and everyone on that pitch at risk.

“That is why the benches were separated ... because I insisted on it. Everyone was at risk in the stadium.”