Gillinghamvs.Cheltenham

Both sides come into the game with confidence having recorded back-to-back wins, and both will be looking to take all three points in the hunt for promotion.

Match preview

Mark Bonner's Gillingham are currently ninth in League Two with 29 points from their 19 matches so far, and have won or progressed from four of their last six matches in all competitions, losing the other two.

Last time out, the Gills beat MK Dons 1-0 on the road in the league, ending their hosts' seven-game unbeaten streak thanks to a 59th minute strike from Robbie McKenzie.

Notably, that result represented the first time that Gillingham had won an away match in League Two since a narrow 1-0 victory over Notts County in September, a stretch that includes three losses and just one draw.

Against the Dons, Bonner's side showed impressive defensive resilience to take all three points and keep a clean sheet despite having just 23% possession, though considering the fact that no team has conceded fewer goals than the Gills in League Two this season, such a defensive display should come as no surprise.

On Friday, Gillingham will once again take on a side in good form and will need to keep Cheltenham - who have scored seven more than them in the league this season - at bay if they are to make up ground on seventh-placed Grimsby Town in the playoff spots.

Meanwhile, Michael Flynn's Cheltenham are 13th in the league table, having accumulated 26 points from their 20 matches to date.

The Robins have lost just one of their last five games in all competitions, drawing two and winning two, including a 2-0 league victory last time out against struggling Morecambe.

In that match, Arkell Jude-Boyd and George Miller netted to mark the first time that Cheltenham have won a league game by a two-goal margin under Flynn, though they have scored two goals in each of their last three matches ahead of the trip to Gillingham.

Last Saturday's clash was also the first time in their last five fixtures that the Robins have kept a clean sheet, and given they have conceded 12 more than the Gills this term, Flynn's side will likely need to rely on their attacking form if they are to pick up any points against Bonner's team.

With this in mind, Cheltenham will take confidence from the fact that they have managed to score in all of their away league games in 2024-25, and will look to continue that record on Friday.

Gillingham League Two form:

D

W

L

L

W

W

Gillingham form (all competitions):

W

W

L

L

W

W

Cheltenham Town League Two form:

D

L

W

D

D

W

Cheltenham Town form (all competitions):

W

L

D

D

W

W

Team News

Manager Bonner should have 19-year-old Joe Goode available on Friday after he missed the win over MK Dons following a concussion he suffered against Salford City on December 7.

Elsewhere, midfielder Bradley Dack, who returned to the matchday squad against Salford following an injury that had kept him out of action since September, picked up minutes against MK Dons last time out and may start on the bench against Cheltenham as he continues to build fitness.

Winger Aaron Rowe also made his return to the squad as an unused substitute in the same game, but given he started Saturday's win, the forward is likely to start this week to support striker Elliott Nevitt in the forward line.

Meanwhile, goalkeeper Glenn Morris is expected to continue between the sticks as Jake Turner recovers from a facial injury he suffered against Bromley on December 4.

As for Cheltenham, they will be without Nottingham Forest loanee Manni Norkett, who is not expected to recover from his ankle injury until early next year and will return to his parent club this winter.

Additionally, club captain Harry Pell is still out following the anterior cruciate ligament injury he suffered in August, though vice-captain Scot Bennett could make boss Flynn's squad on Friday after recovering from a minor knee issue he picked up against Salford on November 30.

Gillingham possible starting lineup:

Morris; Webster, Ehmer, Masterson, Clark; McKenzie, Coleman; Clarke, Nolan, Rowe; Nevitt

Cheltenham Town possible starting lineup:

Day; Jude-Boyd, Bakare, Stubbs, Bradbury; Young, Kinsella; Thomas, Colwill, Archer; Miller

We say: Gillingham 1-1 Cheltenham Town

Given that Cheltenham have scored in all of their away league games this season, and have scored two in each of their last three matches, it is likely they will score again on Friday.

Written by

Anthony Nolan

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