Gillingham are back in League Two action on Saturday when they take on promoted side Barnet in the early kick-off at MEMS Priestfield Stadium.
The Gills go into the game seventh in the table, with last Saturday’s lively 2-2 draw against Crawley Town keeping them just inside the play-off places and 3 points clear of this week’s visitors.
Goals from Bradley Dack and Robbie McKenzie proved insufficient as Crawley equalised twice to level the game, with goalkeeper Jake Turner’s MOTM performance salvaging a point for the Gills.
The Gills have improved in their last two matches, with a win and a draw following four losses and a draw in the previous five games. Dack’s disallowed header arguably cost them a win last week according to manager Ainsworth, who will again be observing the match from the stands.
Promoted side Barnet make the trip to Priestfield currently in 11th place, following their 0-0 draw away at Cambridge United. However, they have not won in their last four games.
Barnet have not faced Gillingham since 2012, when both teams were in League Two. In that season, Gillingham won 3-1 at The Hive Stadium in September, and Barnet won 1-0 at Priestfield in December.
Barnet have had a difficult time in the intervening years, being relegated from League Two in 2017-18, and almost dropping down to National League South in 2021 before they were ‘rescued’ by the COVID-19 pandemic causing the league to abandon the season.
Head Coach Dean Brennan joined the club in 2021 and has seen a dramatic upturn in Barnet’s results, winning the National League title and Manager of the season award last year.
Gillingham’s matchday squad has been bolstered by players returning from injury. Garath McCleary started against Crawley and Jonny Williams came on as a substitute. With captain Armani Little also potentially back to fitness, Ainsworth has plenty of selection decisions to consider.
Gillingham will go into the match arguably as favourites given recent form and home advantage, but Barnet have proven to be difficult to beat, having not lost in their last three games.