We were ten seconds away

Steve Holland rued his luck as Walsall snatched a last second equaliser in the 1-1 draw yesterday. A Ian Roper goal from a corner in the 94th minute denied the Alex a third win on the trot and kept the gap to the relegation zone at just five points.

It was a Nicky Maynard special that put the Alex in front in the 64th minute and the Dutchman felt that the goal should have secured three points.

Holland told crewealex.net: ‘Nicky showed that real bit of ability to open the scoring. It was nothing to do with the work on the training ground. That was Nicky’s own ability and it was a great finish.

‘We thought it was going to be three points but it is still a point and although the players are disappointed, I think we have looked a half decent side now for a few weeks.

‘When we gave away the corner, we all turned around to each other on the bench and said that if we defend this properly, we would be there. We were ten seconds away from a very useful and I thought deserved three points.’

The Alex travel to Luton Town on Saturday afternoon. Luton are already destined for the trap door, and just two defeats away from League Two, and a win for the Alex could be massive with Gillingham playing the form team of the division Carlisle.