Match Report – Gillingham 0-0 Walsall

On paper a point away at an inform Gillingham would be seen by many as a positive but for some of the 209 diehards that made the long trip yesterday it was far from positive as Walsall served up one of the most lacklustre performances on record.

Tom Eaves was a menace all afternoon and somehow squandered three glorious chances with the Saddlers only real effort coming from a tame shot by George Dobson which never tested Tomas Holy in the Gills goal.

Walsall boss Jon Whitney shuffled him pack once more with Shaibu making way for Amadou Bakayoko despite tearing Doncaster a new one on Tuesday, more evidence that Whitney still only had confidence in Baka. Julian Ngoy had an illness so was unable to travel with the team.

Nothing happened in the first fifteen minutes and was probably a catalyst for the Saddlers sloppy defensive display which saw Guthrie pass slowly back to Roberts which saw Josh Parker through but he just couldn’t keep it in play.

Ogilvie became provider on twenty minutes as his pin point cross found Tom Eaves but his free header somehow hit the bar and went over…moments later Luke O’Neill again managed to get a see cross in which Eaves was left alone on the back post but somehow he managed to hit the header into the ground and it went over.

Our first half chance fell to George Dobson but his tame effort was easily dealt with by Holy, diving down to his left to palm it away.

Half time arrived with many fans already under the stand in what was a lacklustre performance.

Second half really didn’t get any better for Walsall nor Tom Eaves as he continued to miss chance after chance, this time turning and firing wide when it was harder to score.

Again, a free kick caused Walsall problems and Zakuani header finds Eaves who hits the post from close range.

Byrne and Parker went close for the Gills late on but the Saddlers claimed a point which was greeted at full time with a bit of anger towards manager Jon Whitney once more.

The Saddlers now face Blackburn, Peterborough, Wigan and Shrewsbury in the coming weeks hoping to avoid much damage and get out of these fixtures with still a decent gap between themselves and the drop zone.