Gillingham are looking for back-to-back wins as they welcome Fleetwood Town to the MEMS Priestfield Stadium this Saturday.

Gillingham’s recent poor form has been boosted with a valuable 1-0 away win at Barrow which keeps them mathematically within reach of the playoff places.

Last Saturday’s win was a very attritional game. Barrow only had 5 attempts at goal all game, with none of them on target as they tried to grind out a 0-0 draw. Gillingham were naturally more attacking but still found it difficult to break down the resilient defence until Robbie McKenzie poked the ball into the bottom left corner in the 103^rd minute.

Gillingham currently sit 16^th in the table on 44 points, 11 points away from the playoff places, while the visitors, Fleetwood, are currently three places above them on 48 points.

Fleetwood have had a decent season this year, which was marred by a dreadful run of form around January when they lost six games out of eight. They are still withing reach of the playoff places and will be looking for a win at Gillingham to build on their recent run of three wins from their last four games.

On Tuesday, they beat fellow playoff-chasers Walsall 1-0 away at the Bescot. Mark Helm’s first half strike was enough to secure the points, despite the home side dominating possession and attacking stats.

Gillingham and Fleetwood have played each other on 20 occasions, with Gillingham winning four and Fleetwood ten. In the reverse fixture earlier in the season, Gillingham were 1-0 up at half-time following Bradley Dack’s goal. However, Ryan Graydon equalised early in the second half. Fleetwood had a penalty saved in the 82^nd minute by Jake Turner before substitute Zack Medley scored the winner in the 85^th minute.

Gareth Ainsworth has confirmed the Gillingham squad will not include Garath McCleary, who is still coming back to full fitness after his injury during the Oldham game. However, Cameron Antwi’s injury is not as bad as first thought, so there is a possibility he could also make the matchday squad. Conor Masterson and Nelson Khumbeni remain unavailable.

Gillingham will need to beat Fleetwood to keep the unlikely dream of the playoffs alive and will be hoping for a much stronger home performance than was on display against Oldham. 

Image courtesy of Gillingham FC