Preview: Gillingham vs. Harrogate Town - prediction, team news, lineups

The hosts have dropped to third spot in the League Two table after their perfect start, while their visitors find themselves 19th with six points on the board from their six outings.

Match preview

After a positive second half to last season under new ownership and the management of Neil Harris, having eventually climbed to a 17th-placed finish, Gillingham headed into the new League Two term with ambitions for continued improvement, and they enjoyed a fine start.

The Gills quickly got up and running on the opening day with a 1-0 victory in a tough trip to Stockport County, as Robbie McKenzie hit the only goal in the final five minutes, before pulling off an upset at Priestfield to dump Southampton out of the EFL Cup with a 3-1 win.

Indeed, each of their opening four outings ended in 1-0 victories as Harris's men saw off Accrington Stanley, Sutton United and Crawley Town to move to the summit of the division with 12 points from four games, with Ashley Nadesan settling the first two and a Harry Ransom own goal making the difference in the latter.

The winning run was then put to an abrupt end, though, as the Gills suffered a 3-0 beating at home to Colchester United before dropping out of the EFL Cup away at Luton Town and suffering a second straight league loss at the hands of Grimsby Town last weekend, as Niall Maher and Gavin Holohan netted first-half goals in a 2-0 Mariners triumph.

Following those three defeats on the bounce, the Kent outfit were able to return to winning ways on Tuesday, coming from behind to beat Leyton Orient 2-1 in the EFL Trophy thanks to Cheye Alexander's penalty and an Omar Beckles own goal, and Gillingham will now aim to build on that with a fifth league win of the campaign on Saturday.

In their way stand a Harrogate Town side who have experienced a much slower start to the new season after their 19th-placed finish last time around.

Simon Weaver, who has been in the hot seat at Wetherby Road since 2009, led the Sulphurites into their fourth straight season in the Football League with the aim of again avoiding relegation, and they did manage to make a winning start away at Doncaster Rovers as Jack Muldoon hit the only goal of the game from the penalty spot, before making it two wins from two in all competitions as they progressed in the EFL Cup with another 1-0 triumph over Carlisle United.

The run would soon end for the Yorkshire side, though, as they then endured three straight league defeats to Forest Green Rovers, Tranmere Rovers and Accrington Stanley, conceding six goals and only scoring once in the process.

Although they were then able to return to winning ways at home to Morecambe, with Luke Armstrong and George Thomson on the scoresheet in a 2-0 victory, the Sulphurites' confidence again took a major hit as they were thrashed 8-0 at home by Blackburn Rovers in the EFL Cup, with the following league meeting at home to Barrow also ending in defeat as Kian Spence hit the only goal of the game.

Now at least on the back of a 2-1 victory over Nottingham Forest Under-21s in the EFL Trophy, courtesy of goals from Thomson and Anthony O'Connor, Harrogate find themselves on six points from six league matches and will be looking to take a major scalp on the road and kick off a more positive run after their recent struggles.

Gillingham League Two form:

W

W

W

W

L

L

Gillingham form (all competitions):

W

W

L

L

L

W

Harrogate Town League Two form:

W

L

L

L

W

L

Harrogate Town form (all competitions):

L

L

W

L

L

W

Advert - content below:

Team News

Neil Harris rotated his Gillingham squad somewhat between their 2-0 defeat to Grimsby Town and the recent EFL Trophy contest against Leyton Orient, and despite the midweek win and the back-to-back fourth-tier losses, we should see him revert back to the more trusted league lineup, with the likes of goalkeeper Jake Turner and defenders Max Ehmer and Scott Malone bound to return from the outset.

Ehmer will likely partner Shadrach Ogie at the heart of the back four, while their is competition in midfield with Ethan Coleman, Jonny Williams, Shaun Williams and Timothee Dieng all fighting for places.

Macauley Bonne will hope to stay in the starting XI and lead the line, although fellow summer arrival Ashley Nadesan is more likely to return up front with support from Tom Nichols, Connor Mahoney and Jayden Clarke.

Harrogate Town should again line up in a 4-2-3-1 shape, and Jack Muldoon will likely come back in to lead the line after missing the recent EFL Trophy win, with the 34-year-old having netted 31 League Two goals across the previous three seasons after helping fire them to promotion.

He could again be flanked by James Daly and Sam Folarin, with George Thomson set to operate in the middle of a supporting trio.

Behind him, Josh Falkingham and Levi Sutton will partner up in the engine room while Kayne Ramsay, Anthony O'Connor, Rod McDonald and Matty Foulds will likely line up in a back four.

Gillingham possible starting lineup:

Turner; McKenzie, Ehmer, Ogie, Malone; S Williams, Dieng; Mahoney, Nichols, Clarke; Nadesan

Harrogate Town possible starting lineup:

Oxley; Ramsay, O'Connor, McDonald, Foulds; Falkingham, Sutton; Daly, Thomson, Folarin; Muldoon

We say: Gillingham 2-0 Harrogate Town

Previews by email