Chris Palmer admitted that Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Norwich felt like a defeat because of the goal conceded in injury time.

The 25-year-old Gillingham utility man felt that his side’s failure to keep the ball and their inability to take their chances in front of goal cost them maximum points at Priestfield.

He said: "Once you’re 1-0 up you just have to keep the ball, especially when they have just 10 men. You have to make them work for the ball.

"If we are losing the ball and giving them chances it’s going to be difficult. We’re disappointed to draw the game. We missed chances but at least we created them."

Palmer (pictured) has started the last five games for the Gills, having wrestled the left-back shirt from John Nutter, and he knows it’s a tough job keeping it.

He said: "We haven’t got a massive squad but the quality of the players is very high here. It’s good to have competition and you just have to make sure you are on it to keep your place."

Palmer played in 44 games last season for Walsall in League 1 and he believes the Gills should be confident of holding their own in the division.

"We will definitely be safe this season," he said. "We have to be positive when we have the ball and we are always going to create chances."