Stevenage manager Steve Evans hailed the battling spirit of his "lions" after victory over Gillingham moved them closer to League Two leaders Leyton Orient.

Carl Piergianni's first-half header gave Boro a 1-0 win in a dogged performance, putting them two points behind the O's after their defeat at third-placed Northampton Town.

The Boro boss knew it was going to be tough against his last club before arriving at the Lamex, hence the pleasure at the final result.

"It was always going to be a battle," he said. "We had a battle at Priestfield earlier in the season and we knew it would happen.

"Some of those lads have played for us in the past and you always want to prove a point when you come up against your old manager.

"We played well in patches but what we showed was a desire to win a football match.

"We had some real lions on that pitch for us but they have been there all season, we’ll not get carried away.

"We won back-to-back home game and against old clubs of mine, which is extra tough.

"We had the objective of getting maximum points from those games, which we’ve got."

Any pride of lions has a natural leader, an alpha male, and for Evans, who that is for Stevenage is obvious.

He said: "When I speak about lions, I look at Sweeney, I look at Vancooten and I look at Rose at the top end of the pitch. 

"But there is no bigger lion in our dressing room than our skipper. 

"He’s attracted all sorts of interest in the last week but I’ve sat down with Carl and spoke about it and he is so committed to what we are trying to achieve here. 

"His performances are getting better and better. 

"I’m so proud to have him as my captain."

But while Stevenage are fighting for promotion and even the League Two title, Gillingham are in the same situation as Boro were in the last couple of years, fighting for their very Football League existence.

Evans believes the goals of the two sides lit the fuse for a melee in the tunnel as the teams went in for half-time.

What actually happened though was a mystery to the home gaffer.

"I didn’t see it," he said. "I went to the dressing room and 100 per cent, I don’t know. 

"Our boys took a while to come in, I know that. 

"There are always things in tunnels every week, either at half-time or at full-time. 

"It’s because it is so competitive. Gillingham are fighting for their lives to stay in the Football League and I’m sure they will with the investment that’s gone in. 

"But we’re fighting for a different prize and it is remarkable because if this was a mid-table game, there wouldn’t be a whimper. 

"But it is not a mid-table game, it’s two groups of players that are just so passionate and want to win. 

"That can never be a bad thing in the modern game."