Gillingham were to be frustrated as they were held to a goalless draw by Walsall at Priestfield on Saturday afternoon.

Sadlers keeper Liam Roberts made a handful of key saves to deny a Gills side that have lost just twice in their last 17 league games.

Leading scorer Tom Eaves wasted the hosts’ best chances of an uneventful opening half.

He headed against the crossbar – following the faintest of touches from Roberts – from 10 yards after meeting Connor Ogilvie’s cross, before missing the target following Luke O’Neill’s deep delivery 60 seconds later.

Eaves also had the game’s first effort on target seven minutes after half-time but could not beat Roberts with his snapshot.

And the Gillingham striker came even closer when, despite being on the ground, he hooked a shot against the post as Walsall struggled to clear O’Neill’s free-kick.

Joe Edwards wasted a rare Saddlers break when he shot over from 25 yards before Roberts kept out Jake Hessenthaler’s drive.

And Josh Parker wasted Gillingham’s final chance of the game, heading over the bar after Eaves crossed from the byeline.

The point sees The Gills climb to 11th place in League One, just six points outside the play-off places.

Next up for Steve Lovell’s side is a trip to Shrewsbury Town on Tuesday night.

 

Gillingham line up: Holy, O’Neill (Wagstaff 74), Ogilvie, Nugent, Ehmer, Zakuani, Reilly (Wilkinson 62), Byrne, Hessenthaler, Eaves, Parker.

Subs not used: Hadler, Garmston, List, Nash, Moussa.

Booked: Wilkinson (86).

Walsall line up: L Roberts, Edwards, Leahy, Dobson, Guthrie, Devlin, Chambers, Oztumer (Cuvelier 76), Morris (Kouhyar 69), Bakayoko (Shaibu 69), Fitzwater.

Subs not used: Gillespie, Kinsella, Flanagan, K Roberts.

Booked: Dobson (86).

Referee: Mr Kevin Johnson

Attendance: 4,682 (209 Walsall)