County begin a potentially season-defining week with a trip to Gillingham on Saturday afternoon, as we look to retain our place in the automatic promotion places.
Last Monday’s ruthless display at home to Newport County saw us become the only team in the top eight to win both games over the Easter period, and when Kyle Knoyle tapped home County’s fourth late on we climbed into the top three for the first time all season.
Carlisle’s 0-0 draw away at Walsall means we sit above the Cumbrians by a goal difference margin of just one, although both Bradford and Stevenage have a game in hand that could see them overtake us in this incredibly tight promotion race. We travel to Brunton Park to take on Carlisle on Tuesday night, in what looks set to be a real promotion blockbuster.
A win at Priestfield on Saturday could even see County climb up to 2nd should Northampton also go on to lose – they travel to Carlisle this weekend, for another huge game in this battle for League One.
Northampton were also Gillingham’s opponents last time out, as an 82nd minute goal from Will Hondermarck consigned the Gills to a 2-1 defeat. It leaves Neil Harris’ side in 19th place coming into this one, nine points above the relegation zone with just five games remaining.
Since we last met:
Gills boss Neil Harris openly admitted in his post-match interview at Edgeley Park that his side had arrived in SK3 with the aim of getting a 0-0 draw back in March, and that’s exactly what he got as we were left frustrated against the Kent side.
The away side managed just 26% possession and no shots on target in that game, but a priceless point on the road continued their remarkable revival since January and lifted them nine clear of the bottom two.
Gillingham were rock bottom of the Football League heading into 2023, with a second successive relegation looking a real possibility, but new ownership and a proactive January transfer window have quickly transformed the fortunes of Harris’ side.
The side have now lost just five of their last 18 games in League Two – form that would have them in the play-off places over that period, with only Salford City, Bradford, Carlisle and County picking up more points since the turn of the year.
Priestfield has become a real fortress in recent months too – an incredible run of eight wins from nine home games is what has propelled them to within touching distance of safety. Bradford are the only team to have beaten them on their own patch in 2023, although six of those eight wins came by just the one-goal margin.
Two defeats in their last three games have stalled their progress somewhat, but with their main objective of safety already looking secure the Gills will be looking to finish the season strongly, to provide belief that they can kick on again next season.
One to watch:
One of the players to have really made a difference since joining the club in January has been forward, Tom Nichols. The 29-year-old became the club’s first signing under new ownership when joining from relegation rivals Crawley Town, and has gone on to score five times since moving to Priestfield, as well as providing four assists.
In a team that has struggled for goals this season – their 29 is the lowest tally in League Two – Nichols is already the club’s top scorer this season, and hit the winner in their last home game against Doncaster Rovers.
Match Stats:
- County will be looking to end an 11-game winless run against Gillingham on Saturday – a run that stretches back to the opening day of the 2000/01 season.
- Despite that run without a win in this fixture, County still hold the historical edge – winning 15 of the previous 41 meetings, compared to Gillingham’s 13.
- Over the last 30 games in League Two, County have picked up at least eight points more than any other side in the division – a run that has seen us climb from 19th up to 3rd.
