Gills assistant manager David Kerslake has said the decision to stick with goalkeeper Stuart Nelson has proved a perfect one.

Boss Justin Edinburgh had opted to let Nelson go in the summer but his pre-season performances and attitude persuaded the management to change those plans.

Nelson has responded with a string of important saves, none better than his one-handed effort on Tuesday night against Scunthorpe which denied Murray Wallace from scoring a last-gasp equaliser.

“He has been magnificent all season,” said Kerslake.

“I have only known him since being here in pre-season. I know he was in and out of the team when the gaffer joined last year but he is a tremendous professional. He helps run the dressing room along with two or three others so he is invaluable to us.

“We thought he was going to leave. When I came here the gaffer said Nels would probably move on. We spoke about it and I said ‘he looks a real good keeper’ and his CV showed us that.

“He just progressed and progressed, trained like a Trojan and the gaffer pulled him in and said ‘the pair of us have reviewed it’. It was a perfect decision.”