Gillingham’s rearguard display delighted the head coach after holding the league leaders to a draw at Priestfield.
Stephen Clemence admitted they could have done more at the other end but felt it was a good point against a side who top the scoring charts in League 2 – averaging two goals a game.
Report: Gillingham 0 Stockport 0
“It was a very difficult game,” Clemence said. “They are the top scorers in the division and we knew we would have to be spot-on defensively.
“They tested us at times but I don’t think they threatened us too much, one or two shots and they hit the post with a wide free-kick, which was probably actually a cross but it’s hit the post, so defensively we were really sound.
“The boys had to work hard for their clean sheet against very good players in this division and so I am really proud of the boys for their efforts.
“Yes, we didn’t create enough ourselves, I thought we were much better in the second half than the first, and we take the point and move on.
“That’s a good point, the point at home to Swindon last week when you get done in the 94th minute is a bad point but that’s a good one, we just have to move onto the next game now.
“We are showing that we can compete against most teams in the division and we will continue to try and do that.”
Gillingham struggled to create many clear-cut chances. Their only on-target effort was Jonny Williams’ 25-yard shot in the first half. Ashley Nadesan put another chance over the bar in the second.
Stockport looked more of a threat with Myles Hippolyte hitting the woodwork and also forcing Jake Turner into a fairly routine save while Lewis Cass headed a good chance wide.
Clemence added: “A clean sheet against the team who has scored the most in the division is always good and if you keep clean sheets you give yourself a chance.
“We would have liked to have played more and worked some patterns a bit better at times but I have to say Stockport shut us out well as well and it was difficult to get through them.
“I thought it was two teams who shut each other out quite well.
“I feel okay, I am not really happy and I am not disappointed either, the boys have really had to work hard to keep their clean sheet and limit Stockport to very little.
“They do move the ball around quite well and we had to work hard and be disciplined in our shape.
“We could have passed the ball better, there are a lot of improvements that we can make in that area, but sometimes you have to respect the opposition and I think it’s a good point.”
