Keeping concentration was the biggest challenge for Gillingham goalkeeper Jake Turner on a quiet night for him at Priestfield.

Turner watched Sutton striker Harry Smith head wide and made routine claims to deal with a first-half header off Ben Goodliffe and a tame shot from Omari Patrick late on. It was his opposite number Dean Bouzanis who had it all to do at the other end.

More: Gillingham 1 Sutton 0

“The lads were excellent and I didn’t have loads to do,” said the 24-year-old keeper, after claiming his 11th shutout of the season.

“Those games can sometimes be difficult for myself, and the back five or three, you have to stay concentrated. I think they had one shot at the end which was quite a routine one but you just have to concentrate and keep doing your job.

“The lads played excellent, even against 11 men, they had the sending off which helped us a bit but even against 11 we played excellent from start to finish.

“It could have been more but we are working on the clinical side of the game and happy to end the year with a 1-0 win.”

Sutton had striker Smith sent off but kept two up top throughout to try and keep their own hopes alive but it was Gillingham on the front-foot throughout.

Scott Malone won it for the Gills in the 72nd minute.

“It’s always tough against 10 men,” said the keeper .

“They sit back and focus more on defending, and their end goal becomes 0-0 and taking a point but a bit of class from Scotty and he puts the ball into the top corner with a great finish.

“We are happy with all three points, we have to build on it now and move onto the next one.

“It is always good when you win, we have build on this, the 1-0 and the clean sheet, we can score more goals but that is coming with the chances we created. I am sure it is just a matter of time before (the chances created) start going in the goal.”