Garry Richards in action for the Gills on Saturday Picture: Barry Goodwin

by Luke Cawdell

Central defender Garry Richards helped Gillingham to a third successive clean sheet on Saturday but knows he can’t become complacent.

The 25-year-old has become a regular at the heart of the Gills defence this season and has received lavish praise from manager Andy Hessenthaler in recent weeks.

Successive goalless draws in League 2 may not have thrilled the watching public, but it was another job well done for Richards at Macclesfield.

"Your main objective as a defensive player is to get clean sheets and so it feels good," he said.

"We’ve got three in a row now. We will take the positives from Saturday’s match, in that it’s a clean sheet, and on another day we could have easily come away with three points.

"I feel great in myself and you just build week by week but you don’t get carried away with it. It is easy to get carried away in football."

Richards has been a virtual ever-present since breaking up the Matt Lawrence-Andy Frampton central pairing.

"I am pleased with the way it’s going, but I have to just keep doing it," he continued.

"There is great competition for your place in the squad so you just have to keep on your toes.

"You can’t rest on your laurels and you have to keep putting in those performances or you can see yourself out the side and on the bench."

Richards has been playing through the pain of a suspected cracked rib in recent games and that has led to nerve problems in his groin. But it hasn’t stopped him putting in quality performances.

Last weekend Hessenthaler described Richards’ performance as "awesome".

"Everyone likes a bit of praise now and then and it’s nice to hear," Richards said. "I’m just doing my bit for the team. We have one aim and one objective and that’s promotion.

"If I can do my bit and help the team get the promotion we are all looking for then I will be more than happy."

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