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Reaction: Gillingham boss Steve Lovell on the 0-0 draw with Walsall

Gillingham boss Steve Lovell summed up his feelings in one word after Saturday’s stalemate.

His side had the best chances throughout the League 1 clash but nobody could kill visitors Walsall off.

“One word, frustration,” Lovell said.

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Gillingham boss Steve Lovell Picture: Andy Payton
Gillingham boss Steve Lovell Picture: Andy Payton

Report: Gillingham 0 Walsall 0

“Fair play to Walsall, they got what I think they came to do. They defended reasonably well, but saying that we had three or four really good opportunities in the first half.

“We had another three in the second half, where we should put the game to bed, but we didn’t.”

Gillingham may have bossed the game but they still weren’t at the same levels as they had been in the week, against Northampton.

Lovell said: “We have set ourselves a benchmark of how we want to play with the football. We couldn’t do that, for one reason or another.

Tom Eaves challenges in the air Picture: Andy Payton
Tom Eaves challenges in the air Picture: Andy Payton

“The pitch cut up a lot, which can’t be helped, that is down to the weather and conditions, I am not using that as an excuse but we tend to play better away from home where we can get the ball down and actually pass it.

“We had to go longer and get the ball into Josh (Parker) and Tom (Eaves) and get second balls off them.

“I am just disappointed we haven’t got the three points. Perhaps back in October I could sit there happy that we have picked up a point, but no."

He added: “You move on and take the positives out of it.

Josh Parker in action for the Gills Picture: Andy Payton
Josh Parker in action for the Gills Picture: Andy Payton

“It’s a point, you don’t want to have all the game and lose it in the last minute.”

Eaves, Gills' leading scorer with 14 goals this season, had several good chances but it wasn’t his day.

“Forwards don’t mean to miss chances,” Lovell said.

“They all go through a spell where they miss them, but it’s nice that he is getting into areas where he is missing them, if he wasn’t then we would get onto him.

Callum Reilly wins a header for Gillingham Picture: Andy Payton
Callum Reilly wins a header for Gillingham Picture: Andy Payton

“He is an honest player, sometimes he over thinks things, rather than just getting in amongst it. Connor Ogilvie put a great ball in second half, all he has to do is be two yards further to the goal and it’s a tap in.

“There are little things like that and he will learn, he will get those tap ins this year, but you can’t fault any of the boys, their work-rate, they gave everything and we just didn’t finish the game off.”

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