OLLY Lee admits a motivational message from his dad helped him at Sunderland at the weekend.

The Gillingham midfielder scored his side’s goal at the Stadium of Light.

Coming days after Rob Lee was induced to the Newcastle United Hall of Fame, it was a productive few days in the North-East for the family.

"Yeah, maybe a little bit [of extra motivation]. Dad mentioned it and text me before the game and said, 'Make sure you beat the Mackems', so it's always nice to get the goal. Unfortunately we didn't beat them, but we still have another chance,’’ smiled Lee junior.

"Unfortunately he didn't make it here today, and I'm sure he'll be gutted to miss that one.

"I'm sure he'll be happy about it though. He'll call me in a minute and we'll have a good chat about it."

Lee is on loan at the Gills from Hearts and added: “It’s not a bad week for the family and the Geordies, eh?!

"It was a huge honour for my old man, and one I think he thoroughly deserves.

"I know he's very proud of it, and he's very proud to have played for Newcastle United for so long.

"It's a massive thing for the whole family, to be honest, and we're all proud of him."

Lee’s shot was spilled by Jon McLaughlin and rolled through the keeper’s legs to make it 1-1 and Lee added: "When you come to the Stadium of Light and feel like you should have won, it says a lot.

"My goal was a clean strike and I thought as I hit it, I knew I hit it well and then I thought it's straight down the keeper's the throat.

"Listen, He's a good goalie and he's made a mistake is one of the things but it's good for me!"

He added: "We said at half time we need to be higher up the pitch, we need a bit more intensity and I think we came out and we did that. Obviously to come out and score a goal early doors always helps and always lift spirits, and I think we were more than a match for Sunderland and I think we've got a team that can match anyone in this league."

The Gills also fielded former Sunderland prospect Mikael Mandron. He cracked a tooth in a first-half challenge and boss Steve Evans joked: “It’s about time he was looking ugly. He takes great pride in his appearance ever day after training and he’s took a bash and lost the best part of a tooth out there.

“He is a former Sunderland player and playing against a former side, if you are unsure who to play up front he was the only cone to come in after the draw whistling and signing so you could see what it means to him to come back here.’’

He added: “If you are Phil [Parkinson], you are disappointed, and I know Jon and he’s an outstanding goalkeeper. If you don’t get that mistake I would be sat here devastated not to be in the competition.

“If that was a league game then that would be their starting XI. Phil is a great manager and I didn’t expect him for one minute to play a weakened side.

“Remember Bob Stokoe on the pitch in the FA Cup … and this is a proper club.

“We earned the right to take them to our place. I watched Sunderland, an excellent side, at Oxford and they lost on penalties which they didn’t deserve to lose on penalties.’’