Gillingham manager Gareth Ainsworth hails highly-rated Sam Gale as one of the “best defenders I’ve ever coached”

Gillingham boss Gareth Ainsworth has heaped further praise on talented defender Sam Gale.

The 20-year-old has just 22 league starts to his name but Ainsworth knows how much quality he possesses.

Gale effectively played as a right-back at Tranmere to nullify their greatest attacking threat in Omari Patrick.

While Patrick escaped his attentions just once to devastating effect, it was otherwise a brilliant display from Gale.

"I thought that Omari Patrick was one of their better, talented players, and I thought the attributes that Sam Gale has got would have been a better match for him than Remeao Hutton," said Ainsworth, explaining the switch which saw Hutton play further forward and Robbie McKenzie drop in at centre-back.

"I also thought Remeao's attributes would have dealt with (Patrick) Brough at left wing-back or left-sided centre-half who gets forward quite well. I thought it worked quite well.

"I thought Gale held (Patrick) really well, and Remeao did a great job on Brough, so I'm pleased we did that. Obviously, we'll have a look at Tuesday night and see if we're able to change anything else."

On Gale, Ainsworth added: "I think he's one of the best defenders I've ever coached, and one of the best defenders in the lower leagues.

"But then I'm probably doing a disservice to Andy Smith and Shad Ogie, because I think I've got some unbelievable young talent at this football club.

"They'll be assets for us, without a doubt, but Sam Gale is super quick, and his defensive attributes are some of the best I've seen."