Gillingham manager Mark Stimson took the unusual decision to switch goalkeepers at half-time on Saturday – despite the game still being goalless.

Stimson believed Alan Julian (pictured) was looking "edgy" and that prompted him to bring on experienced keeper Simon Royce for the second half.

Explaining his decision, Stimson said: "We had a plan before the game, because of recent results, not to play too much around the back and invite pressure for ourselves.

"The goalkeeper was part of that back four and I think in the first half, without watching it again, he must have received six or seven back passes wheras he shouldn’t have received any.

"It was about getting the ball up to the top end of the pitch and turning them around and making the pitch big that way. We kept dropping it back to him and a couple of times Alan for me was a bit edgy and he took too long on the ball.

"We want to play at a tempo and we want to get the players playing like the supporters were singing. That noise was fantastic and that’s what the players have to do. They have to have that tempo and it starts from the beginning of the game because it’s a fit, young group.

"Yes it was hot out there, but it would have been even hotter for the Hartlepool defenders if they had to keep turning round and chasing the ball. We played in front of them and if you play in front of teams you aren’t going to hurt anyone, all you do is invite pressure.

"He (Julian) received instructions. If I was allowed at half-time, I would have made six changes quite easy.

"The lad isn’t happy but it’s life and you get on with it. You come in Monday morning and you prove you are a good pro. If you get a chance again, learn from your mistakes, that’s all we ask of the players."