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Walsall
League Two | Gameweek 13
Oct 14, 2023 at 3pm UK
Poundland Bescot Stadium
Gillingham

Walsall
4 - 1
Gillingham

Hutchinson (34', 58', 85'), Draper (39')
Tierney (70'), Knowles (72'), McEntee (77')
FT(HT: 2-0)
Bonne (60')
Clark (49'), Bonne (73'), Ogie (90+5')
Millen (0')

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

Sports Mole previews Saturday's League Two clash between Walsall and Gillingham, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Gillingham will be bidding to make it back-to-back wins in League Two when they continue their campaign away to Walsall on Saturday afternoon.

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

General view inside Walsall's Bescot Stadium before the match on January 28, 2023© Reuters

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 new owner Brad Galinson is seen before the match on January 7, 2023© Reuters

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:


Walsall form (all competitions):


Gillingham League Two form:


Gillingham form (all competitions):



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


SM words green background

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.



For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 3.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Under 3.5:data


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Written by
Matt Law

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Game History

How you voted: Walsall vs Gillingham

Walsall
Draw
Gillingham
Walsall
50.0%
Draw
30.0%
Gillingham
20.0%
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Gillingham manager Neil Harris before the match on April 18, 2023
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Walsall19124335191640
2Port Vale2010642619736
3Crewe AlexandraCrewe199732416834
4AFC Wimbledon19103631161533
5Doncaster RoversDoncaster209652823533
6Chesterfield2087535231231
7Grimsby Town2010192730-331
8MK Dons1893630201030
9Gillingham199282016429
10Bradford CityBradford197752419528
11Notts County197752521428
12Salford City197662019127
13Cheltenham TownCheltenham207582728-126
14Bromley195952323024
15Fleetwood TownFleetwood185852423123
16BarrowBarrow196581818023
17Newport CountyNewport196582128-723
18Colchester UnitedColchester1941052322122
19Tranmere RoversTranmere195681426-1221
20Harrogate TownHarrogate2063111730-1321
21Accrington StanleyAccrington194782634-819
22Swindon TownSwindon2037102334-1116
23Morecambe2035121936-1714
24Carlisle UnitedCarlisle1935111532-1714


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