Match Preview: v Gillingham (A) Match Preview: v Gillingham (A)

Match Preview: v Gillingham (A)

Here we take a look ahead to the Saddlers' League Two trip to Gillingham.
Don't forget to join us across our social media channels where we'll bring you all the matchday build-up, in-game updates, and post-match reaction as the Saddlers return to action.

PRE-MATCH NEWS & VIEWS

The Saddlers will arrive at this weekend's match on the back of a disappointing midweek defeat to Barrow and a result which saw the Reds suffer their first loss of the 2022/23 campaign.

On-loan Manfield man Danny Johnson was able to get his name on the scoresheet - the Middlesbrough-born striker notching his sixth goal of the season - but the damage had already been done as the Bluebirds grabbed two goals in twelve first-half minutes to take control of the contest.

Opponents Gillingham have enjoyed somewhat mixed fortunes so far this season, with the Priestfield Stadium side having won just two of their five all-competition outings as they defeated Rochdale in the league before exacting some revenge on AFC Wimbledon in the Carabao Cup as the Dons had defeated them in the league.

The Gills arrive at this weekend's meeting on a midweek defeat to Harrogate Town, with Gillingham unable to make anything of their fifteen shots as the visitors netted either side of half-time.

Back to the Saddlers, and Head Coach Michael Flynn may well opt to make a few changes after resisting the urge to rotate to any high degree over the last few weeks, especially as the Reds face quite a few games in a short space of time.

CLUB COLOURS

Walsall will be wearing their white away kit as they make the trip South on Saturday afternoon.

FORM IN FOUR

Here is how the Saddlers and Gills have fared in their first four league outings of the season.

GILLINGHAM
WALSALL
LWLL
WWDL

HEAD-TO-HEAD

The Saddlers and Gills have met on one-hundred-and-sixteen occasions, and it's Gillingham that hold a slight Head-to-Head lead with forty-seven wins to the Saddlers' forty-five.

There have also been twenty-four draws between the two sides, with their first meeting taking place on Saturday, 24th September 1927 as they met in a Division Three (South) match which was played in front of some 6,923 Fellows Park fans, and ended in a 7-4 win for the Saddlers.

THE LAST TIME WE MET

The Saddlers and Gills most recently met on Saturday, 19 January 2019 in a League One clash which took place at Priestfield Stadium and saw the Reds ease to victory with an Andy Cook hat-trick proving to be more than enough to secure the win for the travelling side.

MATCH OFFICIALS

The EFL has confirmed that Bobby Madley, who is based in West Yorkshire, will be the man in the middle as the Saddlers take on Gillingham on Saturday afternoon.

Ian Cooper and Adam Crysell have been named assistant referees whilst Alan Young will act as Fourth Official.

GAMES
OFFICIATED
4
YELLOW
CARDS
RED
CARDS
20
2
PENALTIES
AWARDED
0

CATCH THE MATCH
 
If you're not planning on going to the game, you can still catch the match from the comfort of home via the club's in-house service - iFollow Walsall - which takes you through the highs and lows of every Saddlers game.

Not an iFollow Walsall subscriber? There are a range of options available, including monthly, annual, and gift subscriptions. For further information on the service, or to set up your subscription, click HERE.
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