Gillingham manager Mark Stimson spoke to his club's official website about the 0-0 draw against Carlisle at the Priestfield Stadium yesterday, Stimson being pleased to keep a clean sheet against the Blues :
Gills boss Mark Stimson
"It is a point gained. We were up against a team going for promotion and everybody could see that they are a good side. I think we took them all the way and with that little bit of luck, we could've got the win. If you can't get three points, then take a draw.
"We did that, got a clean sheet and had Danny Cullip back in the team who was nice and steady. There are a lot of positives to take out of today's game that we can use in preparation for Tuesday night's game against
"I keep saying that when you take senior players out of the group and ask inexperienced players to take that role on, it can be difficult for them. When you put Danny Cullip back into training sessions, let alone a match, he just sends a different vibe. He led by example in the changing room, like he has in training all week and he led out on the pitch as well.
"I knew we'd be better than we were at Port Vale, even though we should've won there, and we had to be better because I knew we were up against a very good side. I am pleased with the performance; I'd have loved to have taken all three points but I am happy with one point.
"It didn't look like a team chasing promotion against a team battling relegation. That is all credit to our players. We have always said that we want to try and pass the ball when we can. Without being too picky, I think there are times when maybe we could take another touch and show a bit more composure. It is understandable at times, especially today with that wind blowing all over the place.
"Some of the players were saying at half-time that the wind was making their minds up for them rather than taking that extra touch to put a ball in and behind the opposition. We want to play a certain way and I think we showed today that we didn't look like a relegation team. We are in that fight, we must not get away from that so we have got to perform for the next six games like we have today."
"It is always pleasing to keep a clean sheet. Nicky Southall did his job on the line when he cleared one off the line. Derek Stillie made a fantastic save from what was probably sloppy play from ourselves rather than
"We've had one or two players out injured but today was probably the strongest team that I've had available. The players have shown against a top side that they can match them. If we can keep these players fit and on the pitch in the next six games, we're going to win some games. The pressure might be on the teams above us now as they might be thinking, as other people are, that we are down and wouldn't get anything against
"Simeon Jackson had some good chances today. We brought him to the club because we knew that he would have a bright future although we want him to deliver now. The best thing about "Jacko" is that he is not frightened to shoot. He had a couple of shots that went wide and over but it won't affect him because he is a natural goalscorer that wants to score. He hit that one from 25 yards, it smashed against the crossbar and that was probably the hardest one of the lot. He'll be a good player for this club.
"That was the sort of goal that Chris Dickson would've put in. I think "Jacko" is a better team player but "Dicko" would probably score more. It would be great to have the both of them as a strike partnership! I though Dennis Oli worked his socks off up there and he won a lot of first balls and flick-ons against two strong centre-halves. If you can get that combination where one wins the flick-on and the other anticipates where it is going, you are going to put teams under pressure like we did today.
"The fans were top class again; absolutely brilliant. They got behind us from the start and I think they could see that we were playing on the front foot. They upped the volume again in the second-half. I said to the players that with you kicking towards the Rainham End, you have only got to have a shot and the volume goes right up. I think the fans would've gone home tonight and, for the first time in a while, thought that we aren't a bad side and why are we doing it now?"