Shaun Williams reacts to Gillingham's draw at Crewe and coping with a sprained ankle

Gillingham midfielder Shaun Williams wasn’t letting a giant-sized ankle get in the way of making an appearance on Saturday.

The Irishman was a major doubt for Gills’ weekend match at Crewe but he made the trip, set up the opening goal and lasted the 90 minutes, captaining the side to a well-earned point.

Williams - wearing the skipper's armband while Stuart O'Keefe is out injured - had his ankle strapped to help with the swelling on Saturday and was straight away seeking the ice after the match as he prepares for their next test.

“There was swelling and bruising but the medical team helped me get through,” said the 35-year-old.

“I wasn’t that confident of making it but each 24 hours it got better and better and that’s how I ended up out there. It is not painful but it is massive. Gary the physio strapped it up like it was in plaster, it’s massive!

“I didn’t do any training Wednesday or Thursday, down to the swelling and lack of movement that I had in the ankle, but I was deemed fit.”

Williams’ corner kick was headed home by Mikael Mandron to give Gills the lead at Crewe before the hosts hit back soon after. It had been a lively opening but the second half didn’t leave a lot to write home about.

It’s another point on the board for the Gills, however. It’s one defeat in six now in the league as the team start to slowly turn around their worrying early season form.

“It is definitely a step in the right direction,” Williams said. “We haven’t picked up as many wins as we would like but the foundations are there, just maybe a little luck here and there like last Saturday, when we had three disallowed, hopefully they start falling on the right side for us.

“We signed 15-16 players (in the summer), it is going to take time to