Walsall boss Dean Keates: 'We deserved it'

In what was a thoroughly entertaining game at the Banks’s Stadium, a majestic Morgan Ferrier goal and a wonderful Isaiah Osbourne strike saw the Saddlers to a deserved victory.

Now unbeaten in their four outings this season, Keates’ side overcame the Gills with a performance that saw every player impress.

And the boss felt his team deserved to take the points.

“On the overall game, I thought we deserved it,” Keates said.

“If we take another chance, I think it makes life a little bit easier but Gilingham are a good team and you can see how they have won both games before this.

“I’ve got a group of young players who want to learn and they are a pleasure to work with. But it’s early days.

“There are going to be games when we don’t pick up results and when we will get no points but they are giving everything for the football club, and I think you could sense that in the stadium today, from the stands, the fans appreciated it.

“It’s about the collective as a team – there’s a hunger there. And the lads that have been added this season have kicked on the lads who were still here from last season.

“It was massive that we didn’t have a hangover from last year. It’s a revitalised team but it’s early days, we will keep going, keep learning and keep developing.”

Keates admitted he was disappointed not to hang on for a clean sheet after the Saddlers conceded in stoppage time.

“I’m gutted for the lads because I think we deserved a clean sheet,” the boss added.

“There was a lot of bodies put on the line, we got put under a lot of pressure and they stood up to it.

“It’s just a bit disappointing that we conceded in the last 20 seconds but they have got some big lads and with the ball coming in your box, there’s always the possibility of that happening.”