GILLINGHAM boss Andy Hessenthaler has described the huge psychological boost of being in the top half of Division 1 ahead of the hectic Christmas period. After earning a point against Birmingham on Friday night the Gills enjoyed 12th position in the league for 20 hours before dropping two places without even kicking a ball following Watford and Nottingham Forest's goalless draw on Saturday.

Facing a team they had never beaten Hessenthaler named an unchanged side, with Iffy Onuora playing his last game before his four game suspension begins, Nayron Nosworthy shrugging off a thigh problem to take his place in the starting line-up and Barry Ashby sidelined with a twisted knee.

Hessenthaler admitted he did not think his side deserved to win saying: "The conditions didn't help and the pitch didn't help. But in the last 10 minutes we had a second wind and it looked like we could have won. Psychologically it's nice to get into the top half of the table."

With an unbeaten run of six games Gillingham first team coach Wayne Jones said that November was a great but exhausting month for the side and he was pleased his jaded players had enough energy to avoid defeat.

He said: "We are all very happy with a point but know we can do a lot better. We've had a tough couple of weeks with a lot of games but the good thing about was we have kept the unbeaten run going. Birmingham are a very big club and boast some big name players and little Gillingham tonight held their own and came out of it with a lot of credit."

Asked whether playing their fifth game in 12 days meant there was a lot of tired legs out on the heavy Priestfield turf Jones said: "I think it did catch up with us. We looked a little bit jaded and didn't play with a lot of enthusiasm and sharpness. But saying that in the last 10 minutes we had a couple of chances and we might have just sneaked it.

"Paul Shaw came on and had a reasonable chance but he tried to pass the ball into the net when maybe a blast might have done the trick. But all credit to Birmingham. They came and fought hard and I thought a draw was a fair result."

Gillingham's excellent run has set them up for a busy December and an added bonus was the players got a well deserved weeks rest before the Yuletide fun begins. Jones said: "To come out of November on a six game unbeaten run is credit to the players. The players have had the weekend off so they can get their strength back and rest those tired limbs."

Brazilian striker Marcelo rescued a point for Birmingham on Friday night after Darren Purse had gifted Gills the opener with a spectacular own goal.