County have the chance to move within two points of the automatic promotion places on Tuesday night, as we take on Gillingham under the lights at Edgeley Park.
Saturday’s goalless draw at home to Doncaster Rovers did see County move a point closer to the top three, following defeat for Stevenage away at Rochdale, but we missed the chance to pile further pressure on Steve Evans’ side.
Victories elsewhere for Carlisle, Northampton, Bradford, Salford and Mansfield made it a bad day at the office overall for County, as we slipped to 7th in the table. We’re now five points off the automatic promotion places, and above Mansfield on goal difference having played a game more.
Ourselves and Bradford are the only sides from the top eight in action on Tuesday night, meaning a first win in three games would see us climb back above Salford, and further close that gap on the teams at the top. Mark Hughes’ side, meanwhile, travel to Walsall – failure to win there would also see County move above them in the table, with three points.
The Gills, meanwhile, will come into this game full of confidence, having pulled away from the relegation zone in recent weeks. A 0-0 draw away at Harrogate Town on Saturday leaves them 20th in the table, nine points clear of the bottom two.
Things you need to know:
- Tickets for this fixture are available to buy online now! We advise purchasing in advance wherever possible, in order to reduce queueing on a match day. Click here to get your tickets now!
- County fans can now park at the NCP Car Park at Stockport Train Station for a discounted price of just £3 on a match day, via the ParkPass App! Click here for more information.
- Coming to the game on Tuesday? Click here to view our Fan Information pack, containing all you need to know ahead of your visit to Edgeley Park.
- Don’t forget to turn up early to Edgeley Park to visit the County Courtyard, which will be opening its doors from 6.15pm! For more information on all the food and drink on offer this week, click here.
- Tuesday’s game will be available for supporters to stream over on Stockport County Live, featuring live commentary with Jon Keighren and Sam Byrne. Click here to buy a pass today!
Our opponents:
Tuesday’s game is set to be a very different proposition to what it would have been when this game was originally due to be played back in December, before it was postponed due to a frozen pitch.
At that time Gillingham found themselves at risk of a second successive relegation; in the bottom two after picking up just 14 points from their opening 20 league games. They had won just twice, scoring a paltry six goals in that time, and were coming into the game of the back of a nine-game winless run in the league.
Much has changed for Neil Harris’ side since then. Less than a week after that game was due to be played, the club were taken over by Florida-based businessman Brad Galinson, who immediately promising a ‘lucrative transfer window’ for the Gills.
He was true to his word, too. Having recruited former Millwall and Wolves boss Kenny Jackett as Director of Football, and former player and manager Andy Hessenthaler as Head of Recruitment, the club have made 11 new signings since the takeover was completed. Noticeable amongst them was the addition of Mansfield duo Oli Hawkins and George Lapslie, and Exeter City midfielder Timothee Dieng.
The new additions have had an almost immediate impact, too. Since finally ending their barren run with a 2-0 win over Hartlepool on the 14th of January, the side have won six from ten in League Two, losing just twice, to catapult them up the league table. Striker Tom Nichols, signed from relegation rivals Crawley, scored in each of his first three appearances for the club, whilst Hawkins and Lapslie were both on target in crucial wins against Grimsby and Rochdale.
Only Carlisle have picked up more points over the last ten games in League Two, and that run has opened up a healthy gap over the likes of Rochdale, Crawley and Hartlepool at the bottom.
They do come into this one having failed to score in their last two, however, losing 2-0 at home to Bradford before that goalless draw at Harrogate. A trip to Edgeley Park on Tuesday will likely be seen as a free hit for the side, and an opportunity to showcase just how far they’ve come since the misery of 2022 – as they build towards a brighter future under new ownership.
One to watch:
Eyebrows were raised when Gillingham completed the signing of French midfielder Timothee Dieng from Exeter City for an undisclosed fee – Exeter stating that the Gills had exercised a release clause in Dieng’s contract, which still had 18-months to run.
The former Oldham and Bradford City man was a key part of Exeter’s promotion-winning side last season, making 42 appearances in League Two and scoring 12 times from midfield as the side finished 2nd. Whilst not starting as many games in League One this season, he was still considered an important member of the squad and so the capture is something of a coup for the Kent side.
Match Stats:
- You have to go as far back as August 2000 for our last victory against Gillingham – a 3-1 win at Priestfield on the opening day of the season in the Championship, with Ian Moore grabbing a brace and Lloyd Maxwell grabbing the other. We are winless in ten meetings since that day, losing six.
- This will be the 41st meeting between the two sides, with County just having the historical edge; winning 15 to Gillingham’s 13.
- Only Crawley (6) have picked up fewer points away from home than Gillingham this season, collecting just 12 points on their travels so far.
