Dean Smith: Character inspired Walsall

In a top-of-the-table clash at the Banks's Stadium, a stoppage time strike from Jason Demetriou together with goals from Kieron Morris and Milan Lalkovic.

It saw the Saddlers secure a 3-2 win but, at one stage, it had looked as if Justin Edinburgh's Gills.

It would be the side coming away with the points, after Cody McDonald and Bradley Dack put them two up after half-an-hour.

And Smith was delighted with the resilience his side showed after falling behind.

The Saddlers boss said: "It was a great advert for the game – in my opinion two really good teams but we showed an awful lot of character.

"A couple of mistakes let them in and I thought it was going to be a mountain to climb with how well they have been doing.

"But we just about deserved it in the end. It shows great character to come up trumps right at the end."

Demetriou's goal was assisted by substitute Jordan Cook, but it was fellow full-back Rico Henry who initially delivered the cross.

Smith said: "It just shows you – we had two full-backs both trying to get into their box in the 92nd minute.

"It's a goal that took us back to the top of the league and now the key is to stay there. It's also nice going into FA Cup as the top seeded team – that makes pleasant reading."

Earlier this week, Demetriou revealed he has been getting stick in the dressing room for having not opened his Saddlers account.

The defender confirming Smith had been one of the chief culprits, joking: "It works doesn't it – giving players stick.

"Give a player a bit of stick and he ends up scoring. He will be pleased with that one.

"I'm also really pleased for Morris and that he got his goal. He has been close on a number of occasions this season and is good finisher. He has been in really good form for us."