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

Although Gillingham go on their travels sitting in the relegation zone, the visitors have prevailed in their last two fixtures in the fourth tier.

Match preview

Having gone 12 matches without a league win and being left cut adrift at the bottom of the table, there was a perception that Gillingham could face a long second half to the season.

However, a valiant showing versus Leicester City in the FA Cup has helped Neil Harris's side turn a corner with two successive victories being posted since pushing the Premier League outfit.

More importantly, those wins have been versus teams in Hartlepool United and Colchester United who are both relegation rivals, and there are now as many as seven clubs who are within seven points of bottom spot.

From Gillingham's perspective, they will just be taking one game at a time, yet back-to-back clean sheets and shipping just four goals in five league matches suggests that they can make quick headway up the table.

Since leaving Crawley Town for the Priestfield Stadium, new signing Tom Nichols has netted twice in as many matches, also chipping in with an assist.

Overcoming teams in the bottom half of the table is one thing, but Gillingham are next tasked with facing opponents who currently occupy sixth spot.

Although Swindon have endured a mixed few weeks, they have still accumulated nine points from five matches, ensuring that they remain within five points of third-placed Northampton Town.

Last time out, Swindon produced their most ruthless performance of the season, powering past a Grimsby Town outfit that were reduced to men in the 34th minute by a 5-0 scoreline.

Charlie Austin netted on his second debut for the Robins, and interim head coaches Gavin Gunning and Steve Mildenhall will hope that it is a start of things to come from the well-travelled forward.

Swindon Town League Two form:

D

W

L

W

L

W

Gillingham League Two form:

L

L

L

L

W

W

Gillingham form (all competitions):

L

L

L

L

W

W

Team News

Barring any fitness issues, Swindon should line up with the same starting lineup from the dominant victory over Grimsby.

However, Marcel Laviner, Tyrese Shade and Ronan Darcy all made impacts as substitutes with either an assist or goal, putting themselves in contention for a recall.

Harris is also unlikely to tinker with his Gillingham XI having been left thoroughly impressed with their resilience at Colchester.

The introduction of a completely-different front three has also made a difference, and Timothee Dieng, Nichols and Oliver Hawkins can expect to retain their spots.

Fellow new arrival George Lapslie, another creative player, is likely to remain among the replacements.

Swindon Town possible starting lineup:

Brynn; Hutton, MacDonald, Brennan, Blake-Tracy; Williams, Khan, Iandolo; Wakeling, Austin, Hepburn-Murphy

Gillingham possible starting lineup:

Morris; McKenzie, Ehmer, Wright; MacDonald, Jefferies, Williams, Tutonda; Dieng, Nichols; Hawkins

We say: Swindon Town 1-1 Gillingham

Given the form of Gillingham, their league placing currently matters little, and they will have full belief that they can secure three points on Saturday. However, with Swindon in solid form themselves, we feel a draw is the most likely outcome.

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