Gillingham picked up maximum points from their home opener on Saturday thanks to a goal from Bradley Dack.
Dack struck for the Gills with 58 minutes gone of their match against last season’s play-off finalists Walsall, enough to claim a 1-0 win.
Gillingham boss Gareth Ainsworth switched to wing-backs for the visit of Walsall, Andy Smith chosen ahead of Sam Gale to join Shad Ogie and Conor Masterson as one of the three central defenders.
Elliott Nevitt kept his place up top, to go up against Walsall’s giant defender and captain Aden Flint.
Ainsworth had spoken about front-foot attacking football from the Gills and they made a lively start attacking the Rainham End.
From an early Max Clark corner, Robbie McKenzie met the ball unmarked, but couldn’t get a decent contact and shot wide.
The Gills failed to have a shot on target in their season opener the week before at Accrington and were struggling again to make their approach play count.
Charlie Lakin put a good chance over the bar for Walsall after the Gills defence opened up and Dack lifted a more difficult opportunity high and wide at the other end.
Dack found himself in with another chance when receiving a ball back in after his own corner had been cleared, but he couldn’t convert.
The game reached the break goalless and Ainsworth made a change at the break to try and impose themselves more on a visiting side anchored by the imposing Flint.
Joe Gbode made way for their own giant-sized player in Josh Andrews, Ainsworth swapping pace for power.
Gillingham got their noses in front just before the hour mark as a Remeao Hutton throw into the box caused chaos around the six-yard area and when the ball dropped for Dack from Smith’s pass he made no mistake.
Masterson picked up an injury just after the goal, forcing him off.
Walsall made a triple change in an effort to get back into the game but the Gills kept the visitors relatively quiet.
Substitute Marcus Wyllie had the chance to double Gills’ advantage with three minutes left, as he picked up a ball dropped in between two defenders, but he shot wide.
Ethan Coleman also fired a low shot at goal that keeper Myles Roberts gathered with ease.
With seven minutes added on, there was still plenty for the Gills to do but they kept it tight, with an important late challenge from Gale, to seal the win.
Gillingham: Morris, Hutton, Clark, Masterson (Gale 62mins), Smith, Ogie, Little, McKenzie, Dack (Coleman 71mins), Gbode (Andrews 46mins), Nevitt (Wyllie 78mins). Subs not used: Turner, J Williams, Khumbeni.
Walsall: Roberts, Barrett, Hancock, Flint, Weir (Adomah 83mins)Browne, Warrington (Hollman 74mins), Lakin, Jellis (Clarke 66mins), Stuttle (Gordon 66mins), Pressley (Matt 66mins). Subs not used: Hornby, Farquharson.
Referee: Ross Martin
Attendance: 6,498 (372 away)
