Gillingham goalkeeper Glenn Morris was in inspired form on Saturday, making three outstanding saves to ensure the Gills came away with a point in their goalless draw with league leaders Walsall at the MEMS Priestfield Stadium.
Morris admitted that the game wasn't the most enthralling to watch, but he believed that the commitment and effort from the team was there, which helped contribute to a clean sheet and another point on the board.
The Gills keeper was also voted as the sponsors' 'Man of the Match' for his performance. Morris discussed the three key saves that he made while praising his teammates for their bodies on-the-line attitude that they showed throughout.
Despite the club's league position, Gills have the sixth-best defensive record in League Two this campaign. Morris spoke to that impressive statistic, praising the defensive efforts of the entire team and how the clean sheet mentality has been ever-present since he re-joined Gillingham.
Discussing the game...
I think that it was a typical end-of-season game a little bit. It wasn't pretty to watch, and we had to dig in and stay in the game during the first half. I probably felt that we could have maybe nicked it in the second half, but it wasn't the best performance by us. The main things are that it's a clean sheet, we got a point, and we put in a performance where we can be happy with the commitment and the effort. That's all that you can ask for.
I felt like we were coming strong into it during the second half. I knew we would get a couple of chances. Unfortunately, we couldn't take it, and their keeper has made a good save.
If you could have taken three points from it, it would have been a great 1-0 win against the league leaders, but it's a step in the right direction again. It wasn't pretty to watch for the fans, but it was what was needed.
His perspective on the three saves...
I think that it was one where I had to come and close [Jamille] Matt down and get close to him. It fell to the other player, and he has smashed it, and you luckily get your body behind it. That's what you have to do. You're the last line of the defence and you have got to put your body on the line.
The boys did it brilliantly as well. Sam [Gale] took one in the face during the second half. That's what you have to do to get a point and a clean sheet. It's not easy in this league, or any league, to get a clean sheet. The boys definitely put that commitment in today.
[The Jamille Matt header] - All you can do is make sure that you are set and not moving so you can push off and go as quickly as possible as a goalkeeper. I managed to get my arm there and keep it out, but I thought the other forward, [Albert] Adomah, was going to tap it in. Luckily, he wasn't quite there.
The team's defensive record...
As a whole, as a team, we have defended well. We have had a couple of games where we have let ourselves down, and that is disappointing defensively. On the whole it has been good, and it always has been since I have been here. We have been strong all over the pitch defending. With set plays, having to put our body on the line, and you cannot ask for any more than that as a goalkeeper behind them.
It's enjoyable. I enjoy that clean sheet mentality and that feeling of coming off the pitch without letting in a goal.
