Holt: I don't try to hurt people

David Cuffley

Striker Grant Holt made light of his goalmouth battle with Gillingham defender Josh Gowling after playing a key role in another City escape act.

Just a week after Holt scored an injury-time equaliser against Charlton, it was his header against the crossbar that set up Darel Russell for another dramatic leveller four minutes into stoppage time at Priestfield Stadium.

The City skipper and Gowling were both shown the yellow card by referee Paul Taylor in the closing minutes after clashing in the Gillingham penalty area.

But Holt denied striking his opponent - and manager Paul Lambert said he did not see the incident.

“It's like anything in football. We've had that all day,” said Holt. “He pushed me from behind and I just went to feel where he was. I didn't know where he was, he dropped off five yards and I just caught him on the chest - there was no malice.

“I know him (Gowling) from when he was at Carlisle. I don't go around a football pitch to hurt people.

“Both sides were committed, there were some crunching tackles going in. It had a bit of everything. We worked hard, they worked hard. They had a couple of chances where if they had stuck theirs away it might have been game over but we had chances in the first 30 minutes.

“We're happy with the result. We'd have liked three points. We didn't get them but you've got to take that.”

City again left it late to rescue a point, but Holt said it summed up their spirit.

“We don't want to keep doing it in that manner, it's hard work to keep doing it like that. But it's pleasing in one aspect in that we keep going.

“We kept on going there and it was great to get the goal. We have an unbelievable spirit at the minute - last week we showed the grit and today again it was about an hour with 10 men.”