Gillingham goalkeeper Glenn Morris reacts to the goalless draw away to Salford City on Saturday and a solid defensive partnership

Gillingham goalkeeper Glenn Morris has saluted the impact of centre-back pairing Andy Smith and Sam Gale after back-to-back clean sheets.

Smith and Gale have started the last two games as the centre-half pairing and have helped the Gills to successive clean sheets against Accrington Stanley and Salford City.

A 2-0 win on Easter Monday was followed by a hard-fought 0-0 draw away at Salford on Saturday, with 24-year-old Smith and EFL League 2 young player-of-the-season nominee Sam Gale, 21, looking strong.

Despite their young age, Morris said their performances have belied their experience.

He said: “You have to look at their age and stuff but you wouldn't think that watching them [on Saturday]. They were brilliant. It looked like they were seasoned pros back there.

“The way they managed it and headed things, it was fantastic, and then Conor [Masterson] came on at the end and he put his head on a few things. That was important for us as well.

“That's what you need. That was more of a Gillingham performance.

“There were some fantastic tackles and you need your defenders to do that, and they did it. It was brilliant.”

Morris likes to help guide his defenders through matches but said Smith and Gale were capable of controlling things themselves at the weekend.

“I like to manage them a little bit - but I don't think they need it,” said the experienced keeper.

“I think they've done really well. There might have been a couple of times this season where because there's been some tough moments, you have to keep them in the game and keep them going. But [on Saturday], fantastic. They didn't need any leading. They were the leaders.”

The pair were key to keeping a dangerous Salford attack quiet, standing up to pressure and making