Gillingham's stalemate against Walsall was an opportunity missed, says Jake Hessenthaler.

The Gills could have been sitting just four points outside the play-off places after the weekend, so that made the goalless draw all the more frustrating for the midfielder.

Steve Lovell's side are looking up these days, even if they haven’t reached the magic 50-point mark to see off relegation, but the dropped points were a blow to their outside chances of reaching the top six.

Hessenthaler said: “Yes (it makes it more frustrating), I am not going to lie. It is frustrating, but it is another point closer to the 50-51 point mark, where we have to get to.

“Had we won the game we would have only been four points off the play-offs. We have looked at that, but the main objective is still 50-51 points and the quicker we get to that target then great.

“Anything after that is a bonus. You never know. If we carry on winning games we are going to climb the table.

“We got a clean sheet and we have to think positive. It is not like we scraped a clean sheet, we had a lot of chances, they didn’t create a lot. I don’t think Tomas (Holy) had a save to make second half.

“I don’t think it was one of our best performances but based on chances we were disappointed not to come away with three points.

“On another day, if we get the first goal, if Eavesy scores in the first half, we go away and win two or three-nil.

It’s a trip to table-toppers Shrewsbury on Tuesday for the Gills.

“They are top but our away form has been exceptional,” said 23-year-old Hessenthaler.

“We won’t fear them, we will play our game and on our day we can beat anyone. We will be going for three points.”

Hessenthaler was facing the press for the second successive Saturday after once again being named man-of-the-match by the sponsors.

“To get it two weeks in a row is a good feeling for me,” he said. “But everyone’s performances have been to a high standard. If you are not performing well you won’t be in the team because people are knocking on the door every day. That is the pressure we are under, which is good.”

Hessenthaler did admit he felt tired on Saturday, something the manager mentioned in his own press conference.

He said: “There were a few of us saying we were quite tired. The pitch is quite heavy. Last week’s game against Peterborough took a lot out of the pitch because it was a wet day.

“We have had back-to-back games, we maybe looked a bit lethargic first half but second half we changed gear a bit. We were frustrated at times but it is still a good point."