Video: Jon Whitney hails Walsall's win

Second half goals from Milan Lalkovic and Jordy Hiwula saw the Saddlers run out 2-1 winners at Priestfield Stadium to move back up to third in League One.

Walsall were indebted to goalkeeper Neil Etheridge in the first half after the Philippines international produced a fantastic save to deny Luke Norris from the penalty spot.

But Whitney's men grew in strength after the miss and went on to deservedly win the game after producing one their best performances of the season.

"I am proud because it was it was a huge game and we approached it with belief," Whitney said.

"I have sensed people doubting us and I hope those people now realise what we are about.

"I said from the start it is going to be an up and down season. It is going to go right to the wire but I guarantee my players will give their all.

"I don't think Gillingham could live with us. I think we passed them off the park, we ran them off the park and the most pleasing thing for me is that we were more physical than them.

"I'm proud of the players and I'm delighted for the fans who travelled."

Whitney believes Etheridge's penalty save was a result of the amount of the work the goalkeeper does behind the scenes with the spot-kick coming after Paul Downing was judged to have handled the ball in the box.

"Credit to Neil and the goalkeeping union," he said.

"They work tirelessly on penalties – who takes it and where they go.

"I don't think it was a penalty but we showed we could come back from it. And fair to play to Neil. He is a brilliant goalkeeper and he is more than capable of that."

The interim boss was also delighted for Lalkovic with the former Chelsea man handed a start having previously been on the bench in recent weeks.

"I am really pleased for Milan," Whitney added.

"He was really frustrated not playing Saturday. But I like that – I like that emotion in him, I don't like players to be happy to be left out.

"His goal was fantastic and he is a player for big games."