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Dack makes Taylor think again

Image: Peter Taylor: Plenty of positives

Peter Taylor said he was underwhelmed by Bradley Dack's performance before his goal fired Gillingham to a 2-0 win over Crewe.

Dack put the hosts in front with a fine left-footed curling effort in the 18th minute after Crewe's defence had failed to fully clear Jermaine McGlashan's cross. Striker Cody McDonald then doubled the Gills' advantage somewhat fortuitously in first-half stoppage time. "I think Bradley sets himself such high standards," said Gills boss Taylor. "He's got great energy and he's a clever player, but I didn't think he was playing well. "Then he goes and gets a wonder goal. That's what good players do; he was confident he could bend it in. "I thought we looked in control in the first half. I was pleased with our football, pleased with the majority of the decisions the boys made, and overall I think it was good. "If anything we needed the third goal. I don't care what anybody says, 2-0 is a dangerous score. "In the second half we were professional. We didn't want to let Crewe in, which would have made it a different game. "There were lots of things that were positive. "The second goal hurt Crewe more. (Cody's) an important member of the team, you know he's going to get 20 goals." Gillingham have now taken seven points from a possible nine at home this season and dominated the game from start to finish against Crewe, who have lost their opening five league games. McDonald and leading scorer Danny Kedwell forced Ben Garratt into good saves and John Egan headed over from a Jake Hessenthaler corner as they came close to adding a third after the break. McGlashan hit the post late on for the Gills and Crewe boss Steve Davis - who saw his side lose to Bolton in the Capital One Cup on Tuesday - was left disappointed. "I thought we started really poorly, we looked tired and devoid of any ideas," said Davis. "Off the back of Tuesday's game that's really difficult to take. "We only changed one person, but apart from that it was the side who dominated against Bolton. "They were lifeless in the first half, they lacked energy. "We started the second half well, we were the better side in the first 15 minutes, but we couldn't force a goal. "I thought we had a real go in the second half, but it shouldn't take a half-time roasting to get players to realise that the performance was well below what it should have been. "I've got to try and instil some confidence into them, and then get a couple of results. We need to address the slide. "There's something wrong there with the players, not having belief in themselves and the group. "They need to stand up and show some courage." Breaking news, transfer gossip, line ups and goal alerts from your football club - delivered direct to your mobile. Sign up for Sky Sports Alerts

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