Gillingham defender Max Ehmer isn’t bothered that their defensive record isn’t getting the recognition it deserves.

The Gills have kept three clean sheets in their last four games - taking their season tally to 10 in all competitions - but it’s their lack of goals at the other end that have dominated the season.

They might have the worst goalscoring record in League 2 but only four clubs can boast a better defensive record in the first half of the campaign.

“At the end of the day keeping clean sheets and defending well is what we get paid to do,” responded Ehmer, following Friday night’s goalless draw at Forest Green.

“We just concentrate on our job and when the boys are up there attacking, we’re making sure we’re defensively sound at the back and we don’t get a counter-attack (on us).

“Obviously, we’d like to score more goals but we’ve kept a good number of clean sheets so it’s still points along the way.

“It’s important that we pick up points on the road. We kept a clean sheet and as a defender, and from a defensive mindset throughout the team, if you don’t score then you don’t concede and we did that.”

As for failing to take their own chances, Ehmer insisted that it isn’t down to a lack of work on the training ground.

“We’ve been working hard with the gaffer every day on the training ground to make sure we get in the right areas to create goals,” he stated. “Sooner or later, it will come.

“We were confident coming into the game and on another day it could have been two or three-nil in that second half. Jake Turner has made one or two saves really, we kept them quiet, Tim Dieng headed one straight at the goalie and Connor Mahoney had the shot.

“It’s not falling for us at the moment but we’re working hard on the training ground every day to make sure that it will come our way.

“We’ll keep being positive and with two home games coming up, we’re confident going into them.”

Ehmer is now in the top 10 appearance makers for the Gills - his tally of 375 has moved him ahead of Nicky Southall, and he could yet end the season as high as seventh in the list.

But personal achievements are not at the front of the centre-back’s mind.

“As long as I can help in terms of clean sheets and help the team move up the table, then that’s what I’m here to do, whether it’s appearance number 10 or 375,” insisted Ehmer.

“I’m not looking to get to a certain number, it’s about making sure we get wins along the way - that’s more important to me.”

The 31-year-old paid tribute to the club’s supporters who made the trip to Forest Green on Friday night.

“It’s unbelievable,” he added. “On a Friday night, they would have got home late and we can’t thank them enough.

“They were fantastic, even from the warm-up to the end of the game they were superb. We thank them and (want to) keep seeing them at away games as it helps us a lot.”

Now Ehmer is hoping Gillingham can build on the point against Forest Green at home to Crawley on Boxing Day and then against Sutton on Friday night.

“Everyone wants to come and watch the games so it’s the busiest time of the year for tickets!” smiled Ehmer. “I’ve done (Boxing Day football) for so long that I don’t know any different so I’m just used to it.

“We’re excited to play at home in front of our fans and I’m sure we can give them something to cheer about.

“Crawley will be a hard game, they are doing alright in the league as well. They played well when we played them away but we’ll have our gameplan and look to impose ourselves on them.

“We haven’t set a number of points but if we get a point away and win our home games then it would be a good Christmas period. We go into every game trying to win it.”