Match ends, Gillingham 0, Walsall 0.
Gillingham 0-0 Walsall
- From the section Football
Gillingham were held to a goalless draw by struggling Walsall, who have just one win in nine League One matches.
Saddlers striker Ashley Grimes, without a goal since April 2013, volleyed straight at Gills goalkeeper Stephen Bywater early on.
The 27-year-old then flicked a shot at Bywater from Anthony Forde's teasing cross.
Cody McDonald went closest for the Gills, who remain unbeaten in the league at Priestfield this season.
After suffering their heaviest defeat under Dean Smith in almost two years when they went down 4-0 at Rochdale in midweek, Walsall were back to miserly ways at the back, as they achieved a fourth goalless draw in their last nine matches.
Gillingham manager Peter Taylor told BBC Radio Kent:
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"Walsall showed that they were one of the best passing teams in the division last year.
"It was always going to be a difficult match as they came here after getting beaten 4-0 in the week, so it's obvious they're going to be more determined.
"I'm not sure we had a cutting edge. We did some decent things, but when we eventually got to that final third I didn't think we had enough cleverness either with the delivery of the ball but also the position of the players to be in an area to get the ball.
"It's nothing to do with not playing with each other.
"I think we half know where we want people to be on the pitch. Unfortunately when it's out there in the match, that's the time to make that right decision."
Walsall boss Dean Smith told BBC WM:
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"I was scathing of the back five after Tuesday night. We knew it was just a one-off and they have proved what they can do to give us a platform.
"It was a decent performance. Gillingham had their tails up and went into the game with a lot of confidence, but we looked solid throughout and I can't remember Richard O'Donnell having too many saves to make.
"We created a few opportunities of our own and could have taken all three points, but the lads worked hard out there and dealt with things really well.
"It was pleasing to have Adam Chambers back in action. It shows his commitment to getting back out there and involved. And the news is also encouraging with the other injured lads who I expect to be back in training next week."
Line-ups
Gillingham
- 30Bywater
- 3Martin
- 15Morris
- 4Egan
- 5Hause
- 8HessenthalerSubstituted forLinganziat 88'minutes
- 23DackSubstituted forDickensonat 64'minutes
- 11McGlashan
- 7Loft
- 10McDonald
- 19NorrisSubstituted forGermanat 72'minutes
Substitutes
- 12Morris
- 14German
- 16Linganzi
- 18Pritchard
- 20Davies
- 24Dickenson
- 31Hoyte
Walsall
- 1O'Donnell
- 4O'Connor
- 3TaylorSubstituted forBenningat 56'minutes
- 6Downing
- 44ButlerBooked at 66mins
- 7Chambers
- 11Baxendale
- 27Forde
- 17Flanagan
- 24GrimesSubstituted forBakayokoat 86'minutes
- 10SawyersSubstituted forMansetat 70'minutes
Substitutes
- 5Holden
- 13MacGillivray
- 14Benning
- 20Bakayoko
- 22Kinsella
- 26Clifford
- 37Manset
- Referee:
- James Adcock
- Attendance:
- 5,344
Match Stats
Home TeamGillinghamAway TeamWalsall
- Possession
- Home49%
- Away51%
- Shots
- Home6
- Away10
- Shots on Target
- Home2
- Away3
- Corners
- Home6
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home6
- Away10
Live Text
Full Time
Second Half ends, Gillingham 0, Walsall 0.
Attempt missed. Joe Martin (Gillingham) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
Attempt saved. Anthony Forde (Walsall) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Substitution
Substitution, Gillingham. Amine Linganzi replaces Jake Hessenthaler.
Foul by Jermaine McGlashan (Gillingham).
Mathieu Manset (Walsall) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Substitution
Substitution, Walsall. Amadou Bakayoko replaces Ashley Grimes.
Attempt missed. Reece Flanagan (Walsall) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses the top left corner.
Corner, Walsall. Conceded by Joe Martin.
Attempt missed. Anthony Forde (Walsall) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
Attempt missed. James Baxendale (Walsall) header from the centre of the box misses to the left.
Corner, Gillingham. Conceded by Malvind Benning.
Corner, Gillingham. Conceded by James O'Connor.
Substitution
Substitution, Gillingham. Antonio German replaces Luke Norris.
Substitution
Substitution, Walsall. Mathieu Manset replaces Romaine Sawyers.
Corner, Gillingham. Conceded by James Baxendale.
Booking
Andy Butler (Walsall) is shown the yellow card.
Luke Norris (Gillingham) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Andy Butler (Walsall).
Attempt missed. Kortney Hause (Gillingham) header from the centre of the box misses to the right.
Corner, Gillingham. Conceded by Paul Downing.
Substitution
Substitution, Gillingham. Brennan Dickenson replaces Bradley Dack.
Attempt missed. Anthony Forde (Walsall) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
Kortney Hause (Gillingham) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Ashley Grimes (Walsall).
Corner, Gillingham. Conceded by Adam Chambers.
Substitution
Substitution, Walsall. Malvind Benning replaces Andy Taylor.
Corner, Gillingham. Conceded by Andy Butler.
Cody McDonald (Gillingham) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Adam Chambers (Walsall).
Attempt saved. Andy Taylor (Walsall) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Foul by Kortney Hause (Gillingham).
Romaine Sawyers (Walsall) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Second Half
Second Half begins Gillingham 0, Walsall 0.
Half Time
First Half ends, Gillingham 0, Walsall 0.
Jake Hessenthaler (Gillingham) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Romaine Sawyers (Walsall).
Corner, Walsall. Conceded by Jermaine McGlashan.
Attempt blocked. Andy Taylor (Walsall) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.