Gareth Ainsworth's Gillingham FC have 5 game-changing qualities - we saw them all v Walsall | OneFootball

Gillingham's rebuild under Gareth Ainsworth is well underway, and there were positive signs on display at the club's first home game of the season.

Gillingham's first win of the 2025-26 League Two season wasn't the prettiest victory ever witnessed at Priestfield Stadium, but there were signs that better days could be ahead for the Kent club.

Football League World was at Priestfield Stadium for the Gills' 1-0 win over Walsall, where five key qualities stood out after their hard-fought victory over last season's fancied promotion contenders.

The ability to win ugly

To put it politely, the first half of Gillingham's victory over Walsall wasn't pretty to watch. There was plenty of effort and endeavour, but very little effective play as the direct approach employed in the first half, looking to play the ball over the top into the channels, failed to provide much, if any, service for strikers Joe Gbode and Elliott Nevitt.

But the team continues to battle for every ball and, after some shrewd tactical changes, the Gills managed to score the game's only goal and comfortably hold out for the rest of the game to secure the 1-0 victory.

Ainsworth said that someone after the game had told him that Gillingham will be horrible to play against this season, and he takes it as a huge compliment. He's right, and the ability to win ugly could prove to be one of Gillingham's best qualities in a League Two season that will see games won and lost by the finest of margins.

Changing tactics/personnel when needed

After a first half that saw the forward pair of Elliott Nevitt and Joe Gbode struggle to hold the ball up, Ainsworth didn't sit and wait to see if there would be an improvement early in the second half. Instead, he made a half-time change, bringing on Josh Andrews for Gbode.

It proved to be a game-changing decision, and showed that if Ainsworth sees things aren't working, he'll move quickly to make personnel and tactical changes.

Defensive strength

Gillingham may have struggled in front of goal last season, but at the back they've been solid, and that defensive strength remains an integral part of the Gills' squad.

With Conor Masterson, Andy Smith, Shad Ogie and Sam Gale, Gillingham are blessed with four solid centre backs for this level. It meant that, when Masterson went down with a lower leg injury in the second half, Ainsworth was able to bring on Gale with little to no noticeable drop in defensive solidity.

In a long 46-game season where injury and suspension are sure to play a part, that strength in depth in the heart of Gillingham's defence could prove crucial as they look to push for an improved finish in League Two this season.

Depth from the bench

After huffing and puffing through the first hour or so, Gillingham needed fresh impetus, and it came from the subs' bench. Gale's introduction at the back immediately plugged the gap left by the injured Masterson, but also added pace to the back line. But that wasn't the only introduction that helped the Gills to victory.

Former young player of the year Ethan Coleman's introduction for Bradley Dack on 72 minutes added height and physicality to the middle of the park, while the arrival of Marcus Wyllie brought fresh legs into the Gills' attack.

The jury remains out on Wyllie as a serviceable League Two striker, but Gale and Coleman have proven ability to produce solid performances at this level. And with a number of other players, including Aaron Rowe and new signings Sam Vokes and Seb Palmer-Houlden, still to return, more attacking depth could soon be at Ainsworth's disposal in the coming weeks.

A front man who can change a game

Andrews' six-foot-five frame and combative nature immediately gave the Gills the focal point they'd been missing in attack, and helped put the pressure on Walsall's back line.

The big striker's presence made a huge difference to Gillingham in the second half, both before and after Bradley Dack's match-winning goal, and gave a glimpse of what Gillingham could look like with a big striker on the pitch this season.

And with Andrews and new signing Vokes at Priestfield, Gillingham will be able to field a big, strong striker or two in attack in the coming months. And with a strong backline, a manager who knows how to get the best out of his players, and a renewed sense of character around Priestfield Stadium, it feels like things could soon start to change for the better for the Kent club and its long-suffering fans.