Preview: Walsall vs. Gillingham - prediction, team news, lineups

The Gills beat MK Dons 2-1 in the league last weekend, while Walsall suffered a 4-0 loss to Sutton United in their last match in the fourth tier of English football.

Match preview

Walsall are currently in their fifth straight campaign at this level of football, having been unable to bounce back to League One following their relegation at the end of the 2018-19 season.

The Saddlers have finished 16th in their last two campaigns, so it is not too much of a surprise to see them in 17th position in the League Two table after 12 games of the new season.

Mat Sadler's side have won four, drawn three and lost five of their 12 matches to collect 15 points, and they will enter this contest off the back of successive defeats to Sutton United and Forest Green Rovers.

Indeed, Walsall suffered a 4-0 loss to Sutton United in the league last weekend before losing on penalties to Forest Green Rovers in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday following a 1-1 draw.

The home side will take confidence from their recent record against Gillingham, though, as they are unbeaten in their last five games with Saturday's opponents, recording three wins in the process.

Gillingham made the surprise decision to sack Neil Harris as head coach last week, with a club statement revealing that they wanted "to go in a different direction".

Keith Millen is currently in charge on a caretaker basis, and the 57-year-old managed to lead the team to a 2-1 victory over MK Dons in the league last weekend.

Gillingham will enter this match off the back of a heavy defeat, though, suffering a 5-1 loss to Portsmouth in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday night.

The Gills finished a disappointing 17th in League Two last season, but they are up in third position in the table at this moment in time, boasting a record of seven wins, one draw and four defeats from 12 matches to collect 22 points, which has left them just two points behind leaders Notts County.

Whether or not the decision to sack Harris was the right one remains to be seen, but another positive result on Saturday would lead them nicely into a huge game against Notts County next weekend.

Walsall League Two form:

W

L

L

W

D

L

Walsall form (all competitions):

L

L

W

D

L

L

Gillingham League Two form:

W

W

L

D

L

W

Gillingham form (all competitions):

W

L

D

L

W

L

Advert - content below:

Team News

Walsall head coach Sadler rung the changes for the EFL Trophy clash with Forest Green Rovers on Tuesday, but there is expected to be a familiar look to their XI for this contest.

Sadler is expected to resist the temptation to heavily rotate the side that took to the field for the first whistle against Sutton despite the disappointment of the result.

Jamille Matt is yet to get off the mark this season in terms of goals, but the 33-year-old should retain his spot in the final third of the field alongside Daniel Johnson, who has netted twice in League Two this term.

As for Gillingham, head coach Millen should select close to the same XI that took to the field against MK Dons in the league last weekend.

Ashley Nadesan is missing due to an injury which he picked up in the team's last fixture in League Two, which will open the door for Macauley Bonne to come into the XI.

There were changes to the side that started against Portsmouth in the EFL Trophy, and the likes of Conor Masterson and Jake Turner will return for this contest.

Walsall possible starting lineup:

Evans; Riley, Williams, Daniels, Gordon; Knowles, McEntee, Stirk, Oteh; Matt, Johnson

Gillingham possible starting lineup:

Turner; Alexander, Masterson, Ogie, Malone; Mahoney, Coleman, Jefferies, Clarke; Bonne, Nichols

We say: Walsall 1-1 Gillingham

Gillingham have only beaten Walsall twice since September 2007, and we are finding it difficult to back an away victory here despite the team's position in the table. Walsall last two results have been disappointing, but they held MK Dons last time out at home in the league, and we are backing another draw here.

Previews by email