Gillingham 0 Walsall 0 - Report and pictures

In what proved an uneventful and scrappy game, it was the hosts who created the games two best goal scoring opportunities.

The first saw striker Tom Eaves plant a header onto the top of the crossbar after he met a Connor Ogilvie cross.

Then after the interval, the forward again hit the woodwork when he steered a strike against the post after he latched onto a Gabriel Zakuani header.

The Saddlers created little with George Dobson seeing a distance strike saved by Tomas Holy. The keeper also blocked a low Justin Shaibu effort in stoppage time.

Nevertheless, Walsall will be pleased to pick up a point against a Gillingham side who are now unbeaten in their last nine outings at Priestfield.

Analysis

In naming his starting line-up, boss Whitney made one change from the team that swept aside Doncaster on Tuesday night.

After netting from the subs bench against Darren Ferguson’s side, Amadou Bakayoko was restored to the team at the expense of Justin Shaibu.

It meant the Saddlers lined up in a 4-1-4-1 formation with Joe Edwards continuing on the left of midfield and Kieron Morris on the right.

Gillingham, under the guidance of Steve Lovell, started in a 3-5-2 system that saw Tom Eaves partner Josh Parker up front.

In what was a cagey and scrappy opening 20 minutes, both teams struggled to find any rhythm on a poor playing surface in Kent.

Slowly but surely though, the home side began to get on top with star striker Eaves twice coming close to opening the scoring.

First, the former Yeovil man glanced a header onto the top of the crossbar after meeting a pinpoint Connor Ogilvie cross.

Then from the opposite flank, Luke O’Neill whipped in a dangerous ball that a diving Eaves headed wide at the back post.

Walsall responded with George Dobson seeing a low effort from 25-yards tipped away by Tomas Holy. Callum Reilly then rifled a strike wide for the Gills from the edge of the box.

But overall, both teams had shown a distinct lack of quality in a first-half where goal scoring opportunities were few and far between.

It was Lovell’s side who continued on the front-foot following the re-start.

And they came close to opening the scoring when the ball was worked to Eaves who then saw a powerful strike beaten away by Liam Roberts.

With the game continuing to be finely poised, it looked like a mistake, a moment of brilliance or a set-piece would be the only way either team would break the deadlock.

And that elusive goal almost arrived just past the hour mark when Adam Chambers gave away a free-kick on the edge of the Saddlers box.

O’Neill sent in a delivery which Gabriel Zakuani headed back across goal. And that was met by Eaves who, leaving back, steered a strike onto the post.

With his team struggling to create, Whitney made a double change in the 70th minute with Maz Kouhyar and Shaibu replacing Morris and Bakayoko. Florent Cuvelier then replaced Oztumer.

It was Gillingham who remained on top though with Parker flicking a header wide following a deep Mark Byrne cross. The striker then headed over from a fine Scott Wagstaff delivery.

Priestfield was now rocking as the hosts went in search of a late winner.

But while they pressed forward, it was the Saddlers who almost pinched the points with Shaibu bursting into the box before seeing a low effort comfortably blocked by Holy.

Key Moments

17 Ben Nugent meets a corner at the back post but his header sails over the bar.

21 Tom Eaves plants a header onto the top of the crossbar following a pinpoint Connor Ogilvie cross.

23 Eaves meets a whipped Luke O’Neill cross but his diving header is wide.

26 George Dobson, Joe Edwards and Erhun Oztumer play some net one-touch football to get Oztumer away down the left. But in a dangerous position he then over hits his cross.

32 Dobson finds space in the middle of the pitch and unleashes a low 25-yard drive which Tomas Holy pushes away.

39 Gillingham regain possession midway inside the Walsall half. The ball comes to Callum Reilly who drills a left-footed shot wide.

42 Oztumer's free-kick catches Gillingham off guard but Amadou Bakayoko, unmarked, heads well wide.

52 After a long spell of Gillingham, pressure, the ball is worked to Eaves in the box who sees a strike beaten away by Liam Roberts.

56 Kieron Morris hits a low drive from 20-yards which sails well wide.

61 Eaves twists and turns on the edge of the box before sending a low drive wide.

65 O'Neill's free-kick is headed back across goal with Eaves latching onto the ball before hooking a shot onto the outside of the post.

71 Jake Hessenthaler drags a tame shot at Roberts from just inside the box.

80 Josh Parker glances a header inches wide from Mark Byrne's whipped cross.

83 Scott Wagstaff digs out a cross but Parker heads over.

90 Justin Shaibu bursts into the box but his low effort is easily stopped by Tomas Holy.

Teams

Gillingham: Holy, O’Neill (Wagstaff 74), Ogilvie, Nugent, Ehmer, Zakuani, Reilly (Wilkinson 62), Byrne, Hessenthaler, Eaves, Parker.

Subs not used: Hadler, Garmston, List, Nash, Moussa

Walsall: L. Roberts, Leahy, Guthrie, Fitzwater, Devlin, Chambers, Edwards, Dobson, Oztumer (Cuvelier 76), Morris (Kouhyar 70), Bakayoko (Shaibu 70).

Subs not used: Gillespie, K. Roberts, Kinsella, Flanagan.