Experience was the winner for Gillingham’s management when selecting a replacement for Joe Martin at left-back.

Martin limped off in Gills’ previous game at Bristol City but West Brom loanee Bradley Garmston still remained on the bench against Walsall on Sunday.

Gills’ caretaker management team instead went with their skipper Doug Loft, who dropped back from midfield.

Coach Darren Hare, one of four on the management committee, explained the thinking behind the decision.

“We wanted a bit more experience across the back,” he said.

“I thought Bradley did extremely well when he came on (against Bristol City) and it was always a potential option if it didn’t work for us.

“Doug doesn’t particularly like playing left full-back, he was keen to tell us that, but he said if we wanted him to play there then he would. I thought he did okay.

“He is the captain and he reads the game well. He gets himself into good positions. Two or three times he intercepted crossfield passes, where he was ready and got infront of people.”

Martin went for a scan on Thursday after the game in Bristol, where he took a whack to the ankle, but no break was discovered. He will, however, miss Gills' home game against Sheffield United.