Preview: Gillingham v Fleetwood Town

24 October 2020

Fleetwood Town face Gillingham on Saturday 24 October at Priestfield Stadium in Sky Bet League One, and we have all you need to know ahead of the 1pm kick-off in our match preview.

Fixture: Gillingham v Fleetwood Town

Competition: Sky Bet League One

Date: Saturday 24 October 2020

Kick-off: 13:00

Venue: Priestfield Stadium, Redfern Avenue, Gillingham, ME7 4DD

Match officials: John Busby (Referee), Andy Bennett & Christopher Wade (Assistant Referees), Alan Young (Fourth Official)

John Busby.jpg

FLEETWOOD TOWN

Fleetwood are looking to get back to winning ways as they have only gained one point from their last two league games.

In their last game, Town fought against Accrington for 90 minutes, creating multiple gilt-edged chances but weren’t able to find the back of the net on the night. The deciding goal was scored by Stanley in the second half as Dion Charles converted a Michael Nottingham long-throw.

Before that, Fleetwood played out a goalless draw against Lincoln City at Highbury. Both sides battled throughout the game and neither was able to break the deadlock. Barrie McKay came close in the dying stages but couldn’t quite guide his effort past the Lincoln goalkeeper.

Fleetwood Town.jpg

GILLINGHAM

Gillingham have also had a troublesome start to October, as they have only managed to win one of their last five games in all competitions.

The Gills have suffered two 2-0 losses in a row recently, against Milton Keynes Dons and Portsmouth respectively, with the sides last win being a 3-1 victory over Oxford United at Priestfield.

Vadaine Oliver opened the scoring early on, with Jacob Mellis quickly doubling their lead after just 22 minutes. The Yellows managed to pull one back just after half-time, through Dan Agyei, but it was a Jordan Graham goal which settles the tie 20 minutes from time.

PRE-MATCH QUOTES – TOM EDWARDS

Defender Tom Edwards spoke to the press ahead of Fleetwood Town’s trip to Priestfield Stadium to face Gillingham. He had this to say:

“It’s important to get back to winning ways - it’s a great game to try to bounce back. We were unfortunate against Accrington, but we are looking to bounce back and get three points on the board.

“I think it’s all about getting the right performance. If we can perfect the best we can, I’m pretty sure in this league, we can take teams to the end of games and I’m sure we can get the three points if we perform.

“We have to help each other so instead of settling yourself in, you have to settle in together. Especially, if you play alongside each other in a back four. I feel like that’s what the lads have done, they’ve all gelled straight away and are pushing each other.”

ONE TO WATCH – JORDAN GRAHAM

One to watch from Gillingham is midfielder, Jordan Graham. The 25-year-old initially joined the Gills on loan from Premier League side Wolves in January but made the move permanent over the summer after making seven appearances last campaign.

Graham has had a blistering start to the 2020/21 season, as he has managed to score five goals in all competitions in just ten games. His first came in a 1-1 draw against Coventry City but then went on to score a brace just four days later in a 3-2 win over Wigan Athletic. The midfielder has since scored goals against Shrewsbury Town and Oxford.

WATCH TOWN ON IFOLLOW

Supporters can now purchase video match passes for Fleetwood Town’s Sky Bet League One clash against Gillingham now!

With games still being played behind closed doors, the match pass is your best option to watch the Cod Army during the early stages of the 2020/21 season.

Joey Barton's side are set to travel to Priestfield Stadium on Saturday 24 October as they look to get back to winning ways - and you can watch the game against The Gills for just £10!

If you'd like to purchase your match pass, click HERE.

20201024 - Gillingham iFollow Graphic (Website).jpg

Match Previews

Match Reports

Report: Madden and Evans goals see Fleetwood beat Gillingham at Priestfield

24 October 2020

Fleetwood Town fought hard in their 2-0 win as they overcame Steve Evans' Gillingham at Priestfield Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Both sides managed to create multiple gilt-edged chances throughout the game, but it was Fleetwood who found the breakthrough, as Paddy Madden’s short-range header just after the hour mark flew past Jack Bonham. Ched Evans added to this in added time as he found some space in the home side's box and smashed it home.

The first chance of the game fell to Fleetwood after Jay Matete stormed forward from the midfield and was fouled 20-yards out by Scott Robertson. New-signing Tom Edwards stepped up to take the free-kick, but his effort flew over the crossbar.

Both sides then contested in the middle of the park until the 20^th minute when Harvey Saunders found a yard of space in the opposition’s box, but his effort was blocked by a diving Zech Medley. From the resulting corner, Charlie Mulgrew rose highest at the back post but couldn’t guide his header goalwards.

There was a stop in play soon after as Tom O’Connor went down in the middle of the park, needing treatment from the bench, with Callum Connolly also needing medical treatment after a facial injury.

Around the half-hour mark, John Akinde nodded on a header towards Dominic Samuel inside the Fleetwood box, who forced a diving save out of Jayson Leutwiler.

Gillingham were back on the attack just a few minutes later as Akinde found himself in a one-on-one situation with Leutwiler, but his strike ended up hitting the post.

The home side started to really find their feet in the game as in the 40^th minute, Ryan Jackson played the ball down the wing to Jordan Graham, who crossed the ball into a packed box, where Samuel rose headed just over.

Fleetwood had the last chance of the half as Sam Finley won the ball inside the Gillingham half, drove forward but his strike from range went high and wide of the target.

Two minutes into the second half, Connor Ogilvie played a long free-kick over the top, which Mulgrew clears, only to Alex MacDonald who struck the ball well wide of the far post.

A couple of minutes later, Leutwiler came out to collect a lobbed through ball but was contested, the ball then dropped to a Gillingham forward, who played the ball across the box to MacDonald who rattles the crossbar with his strike.

Fleetwood almost drew level in the 55^th minute as substitute Ched Evans brilliantly played the ball into Callum Camps inside the Gillingham box. He then found Paddy Madden, but his strike was blocked by Medley.

Claims for a penalty followed as a perfectly weighted through ball found Camps inside the Gillingham box, he took the ball past Medley and was seemingly tripped by the defender, but the claims were waved away by the referee.

Fleetwood found their way forward again soon after as Finley’s chip into the box was just about cleared, but only to Glenn Whelan, whose effort from range flew over the bar.

Town finally found the breakthrough in the 66^th minute as Edwards whipped a dangerous ball in from the left towards Camps, who jumped up and headed against the crossbar. The rebound fell to the feet of Madden who calmly placed the ball home.

Late on in the game, Gillingham defender Ogilvie chased down Jay Matete on the right-wing and wiped out the player, stopping his run forwards, sending the youngster into the sponsor boards. The referee, who had previously booked Gillingham’s number three, brought out the yellow card against and sent him off, leaving the home side with ten men on the pitch.

The last chance of the game fell to Fleetwood as Evans found some space inside the Gillingham box, composed himself, and smashed the ball straight past Bonham to double Town's lead.

Gillingham XI: Bonham (GK), Jackson (C), Ogilvie, Tucker, Medley, Samuel (Coyle 85’), Graham, Akinde, Eccles, Robertson (Willock 74’), O’Connor (MacDonald 23’).

Subs not used: Walsh (GK), McKenzie, Woods, Maghoma.

Town XI: Leutwiler (GK), Edwards, Andrew, Connolly, Whelan (C), Camps (Coutts 88’), Mulgrew, Madden, Saunders (Evans 53’), Finley (Duffy 66’), Matete.

Subs not used: Cairns (GK), Burns, McKay, Holgate.