Gillingham 0 Cheltenham 0

Are goals overrated? Last week’s eight League Cup games, which saw an average of over 4.5 goals per game, were hailed as unbeatable entertainment in some parts. This was followed by a weekend in which only two matches in England finished goalless. But there is a counter argument that goals lose their value when they come in too great an abundance, that it is there scarcity that makes them special.

On Tuesday night Gillingham and Cheltenham bucked the trend with a hard fought 0-0 draw. Neither side could be excused of sitting back. Cheltenham had the better of the first half, drawing a couple of fine saves from Stuart Nelson, but it was Gillingham who had the best chance of the half, and indeed the match. After Jack Payne had his long shot parried, Danny Kedwell could only smash the rebound against the crossbar from (very) close range. Gillingham were stronger in the second period, but the away side continued to threaten on the break. In the end neither team could turn their endeavour into goals, but both will probably be fairly satisfied with a point.

Hopefully most fans were too. The ‘friends for a fiver’ ticket offer meant there was a bumper crowd in, and expectations had probably been raised by the fact that the Gills had scored four in each of their last three home games. A goal, and more importantly a win, may have helped persuade a few more of those extra fans to come back again soon.  But football has to be about more than goals, and there was enough in this game to keep most spectators interested. With everyone else in the chasing pack dropping points this was a game from which both teams should take the positives, safe in the knowledge that if they play like that against most teams in this league, they will be rewarded with three points more often than not.

The occasional 0-0 draw is good for football. For one, it reminds everyone that scoring a goal is a difficult business, to be fully enjoyed the next time one comes along. It also helps remind us that there is more to the game than just attacking. As aesthetically pleasing as it is to watch the best passing sides going forward, do we really want every team to try and play like Barcelona?  Chelsea's Champion's League victory last season was every bit as valid as Barcelona's the year before, even if it was built on very different foundations. Football needs that diversity, that clash of cultures, so that no one style of playing becomes too dominant for too long. And whilst the odd 7-5 scoreline can be fun, the sheer explosion of joy that comes with scoring can only be maintained as long as it remains a relatively rare occurrence, a surprise even. 0-0, good for football and good for the soul.

Just not every week, obviously.