Gills defended valiantly to come away from Highbury Stadium with a point after a 0-0 draw against Fleetwood Town.
Mark Bonner made one change to the starting XI that beat Morecambe 1-0 last weekend. Tim Dieng returned from a knock that kept him out of the game to start behind Jacob Wakeling in attack.
Jonny Williams was named among the substitutes alongside a returning Aaron Rowe.
The first half-chance of the game came in the tenth minute for the hosts. Brendan Wiredu directed a cross towards the back post to an unmarked Mackenzie Hunt. Fortunately, Hunt floated his side-footed volley over the bar, leaving Jake Turner untroubled.
Tommy Lonergan should have done better in the 21st minute. Hunt curled a cross towards the forward in the six-yard box. He attempted to direct a header goalward but could not make the correct contact with the ball, as it glanced off Lonergan’s head and wide of the target.
Hunt continued to be at the heart of the action when he struck an effort goalward from distance. His first-time effort had plenty of power but was well blocked by a wall of Gillingham defenders before they cleared the second ball.
In the 35th minute, Lonergan thought he had given Fleetwood the lead. Carl Johnston made a run into the box unmarked before fizzing a low ball into the six-yard box. Lonergan was on hand to prod home from a few yards out, but he had done so from an offside position, ruling the goal out.
The hosts continued to apply pressure when Gills could not clear Wiredu’s long throw into the box. The ball bounced around, begging a Fleetwood player to get a shot away, which they failed to do, and Gills eventually cleared the danger.
Jayden Clarke should have given Gillingham the lead before half-time. Clarke latched onto a wayward pass at the back by a Fleetwood defender, finding himself one-on-one with David Harrington in the home goal.
He came rushing off his line to close the angle as Clarke directed his shot towards the far left corner. It beat Harrington but whistled just wide of the post.
HALF-TIME: Fleetwood Town 0-0 Gillingham
It took a big block from Max Clark to keep the score goalless five minutes into the second half. A cross towards the back post was volleyed goalward by Mark Helm, but Clark was on hand to provide the crucial block to send it wide of the post and out for a corner, which Gills dealt with.
Gills made their first two substitutions around the hour mark, as Rowe and Joe Gbode replaced Jack Nolan and Wakeling respectively.
Mipo Odubeko created a chance minutes after replacing Lonergan. He cut inside from the left onto his right foot before shooting from around 20 yards. It was a low-driven effort right at Turner, who got his body behind it to make the save.
A big deflection denied Odubeko seconds later. Johnston made his way into the penalty area before laying it off to Odubeko on the penalty spot. Fortunately, his effort took a huge deflection, which took it away from the goal and out for a corner, which was headed clear by Robbie McKenzie.
Gills made another change in the 68th minute when George Lapslie replaced Dieng.
Rowe forced Harrington into a save soon after. Clark sent the ball down the left wing for Rowe to get to. He brought it forward before cutting inside onto his left foot and curling a shot towards the far bottom corner. The ball bounced just in front of Harrington, who had to get a solid hand behind the ball to push it clear.
The follow-up came out to Remeao Hutton, who fizzed the ball across the goal towards the back post. Unfortunately, no one was on hand to get a definitive touch and send it goalward.
Matty Virtue, who replaced Elliot Bonds, tried his luck in the 77th minute. However, his effort floated harmlessly into the chest of Turner, who made the routine save.
Lapslie had an opportunity moments later after he got on the end of a flick-on. He prodded his effort towards the far bottom corner, which went just wide of target. There were mass appeals for a corner from the travelling Gillingham supporters, who thought it had come off Harrington after he had rushed off his line to close the angle.
Gills made their final change in the 81st minute, as Jonny Williams came on for Clarke.
Brave goalkeeping from Turner denied Ryan Broom an almost certain goal during stoppage time. Broom attempted to get on the end of a header towards the penalty area, with Turner rushing off his line. Had Broom got to the ball first, he looked destined to take it beyond the goalkeeper with an open goal waiting. However, Turner threw himself at the ball to get there first before gathering it at the second attempt.
FULL-TIME: Fleetwood Town 0-0 Gillingham
Fleetwood Town: Lynch, Wiredu, Holgate, Medley (Bolton 16’), Johnston, Bonds (Virtue 73’), Hunt (Patterson 73’), Helm (Broom 60’), Mayor, Lonergan (Odubeko 60’), Graydon
Unused Substitutes: Lynch, Hughes
Gillingham: Turner, Hutton, Ehmer, Ogie, Clark, McKenzie, Little, Nolan (Rowe 60’), Dieng (Lapslie 68’), Clarke (J. Williams 81’), Wakeling (Gbode 59’)
Unused Substitutes: Morris, Giles, Wyllie
Attendance: 2848 (420)
Referee: Scott Jackson
