Mark Byrne scored a late equaliser at Shrewsbury and then ensured Gillingham kept hold of a point with a great goalline block.

The Gills midfielder felt they fully deserved their share of the spoils.

He said: “We deserved it after our second-half performance. We didn’t start too brightly, first 20 minutes or so, but just before half-time we got into the game and second half we dictated it from start to finish.

“We got on the ball, were passing it around and pinned them in.

“We knew it was going to be a tough battle, they are strong and physical and they are fit but overall we were happy with the point away from home and we could have nicked it.

“We kept at it and we have shown over the last few months that never-say-die attitude. We keep going right to the end and we are not afraid to go for it, the manager builds that into the players.”

Byrne’s late strike might not have been his best of the season – that one was his stunning volley against Bristol Rovers back in December – but his hit on Tuesday was still special.

“I just went for the far post,” said the 29-year-old.

“Max (Ehmer) did well to turn his man and lay it off to me. I knew that the shot would either be saved by the keeper and palmed to one of our strikers or else one of their defenders would hit it. It was a good finish.

“The volley (against Rovers) is still up there as probably the best goal I have scored in my career but I will take any goal, I wouldn’t mind a tap-in, I just want to just grab as many as I can.”

His clearance off the line with a minute left wasn’t bad, either.

“He (Abu Ogogo) connected well,” Byrne said. “I just threw my body at it. Luckily, it came straight at me and hit me in the knee.”

Gillingham are one of League 1’s form sides and Byrne believes manager Steve Lovell is instilling the confidence in them to go out and perform.

He said: “I am enjoying my football and you never know what could happen. We are doing well, we have plenty of confidence. Confidence is massive in football.

“We have changed dramatically, the boys are happy and we have to just keep
going. Confidence is massive in football.

“We are going into every game thinking we can win but at the start of the season it was different, thinking where are we going to nick a win from, or a point.

“Now the lads think they are going to win each game.”