City battled for a hard-earned goalless draw at Gillingham this afternoon.

Phil Parkinson made five changes from last week with the likes of Andrew Davies, Simon Ramsden and Kyel Reid back in the fray.

But City had a scare in the first minute as Jo Kuffour's acrobatic effort hit the foot of the post.

The visitors settled well after that and enjoyed good chunks of possession against a side beaten only once at home.

Reid was a danger on the left wing and his cross set up James Hanson for a header which Ross Flitney brilliantly saved from close range. The striker should have knocked in the rebound but blazed into the sparcely-occupied away end with the goal beckoning.

Michael Flynn's underhit back pass threatened to undo City's good work just before half-time. But Davies, a calm presence on his return from his latest long ban, made a crucial block to foil Danny Kedwell.

Chances remained at a premium for a while after the break but Jon McLaughlin made a good save with his legs on the hour from Kuffour's shot on the turn.

Ricky Ravenhill had a good game in the City engine room and was only inches away from crowning it with a goal as his volley flashed wide from a corner.

Sub Nahki Wells turned the ball in the net from Reid's cross-shot but was offside. The Bermudian was a livewire addition and he also rattled a trademark 20-yard blast into the side-netting.

But City somehow survived a late goalmouth scramble as Gillingham seemed to be queuing up to score. Marcel Seip desperately cleared off the line from Stefan Payne and City managed to hang on in a flurry of frantic pressure.

Parkinson was involved in an angry finger-wagging argument with some home fans after the final whistle as Gillingham's frustration showed.

But the City chief will have been delighted at the way his team - still without an away win this season -dug in for a point from the long haul to Kent.