[ 20 Apr 24 ] Mansfield Town v GILLS Match Thread

[Garawa]

- Mansfield lead the wins over the Gills by 20 wins to 15 and 18 meetings were drawn. The Gills are winless in 3 games with Mansfield - the reverse fixture ending 1-1 after Mansfield won both meetings last season 2-0.
- The Gills last win against Mansfield came in an away game there 2 visits ago back in March 1996. That win registered their only points in 6 trips after losing the other 5 and is their only win in 17 visits, losing 11 of them.
- Mansfield started the season unbeaten in their opening 19 league and cup games before losing 3 in a row (part of 5 losses in 7 games). They have lost 5 of their last 13 games but have won 10 of their last 16 including their last 3 games, securing them promotion to League 1.
- Mansfield drew 8 of their opening 12 league games before drawing 5 of the subsequent 32. The Gills drew 2 of their opening 26 league games and have drawn 7 of the 18 league games since then.
- The Gills 3 goals against Barrow mean they are no longer the lowest scorers in the league - only Forest Green have scored fewer (41). Mansfield have the 2nd best defence and only Stockport (44) have conceded fewer. Mansfield also have the fewest amount of blank sheets (5).
- After half time, Mansfield get to grips with their league games. They are the League 2 top scorers of second half goals (45) whilst they have the division's joint best defence for goals conceded after the break (22).
- As well as the most shots off target (502), Mansfield have the most shots on target in League 2 with 275 and average 6.25 shots on target per league game. Just 2 of the Gills' league games this season saw them manage 6 shots on target in the match and a further 2 saw them take their season-high total of 7.

(15:01) EFL Sky Bet League 2: Mansfield Town v Gillingham FC - Kick Off [ 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 ]

(15.02) Jefferies pounces on a defencive lapse by the promoted side gets it to Hutton whose cross is headed just wide by Dieng. Moments later, the Gills charge down the keeper and have started brightly.

(15.07) GOAL! Walsall 1-0 Bradford - Walsall move up to 7th (68 points)

(15.08) Jefferies sprints pasts a static defence and finds the crucial pass but a vital block wins the Gills a corner.

(15.20) GOAL! Mansfield Town 0-1 Gillingham: Dieng - The Gills move up to 9th (66 points).

(15.26) Mansfield coming back into the match. A ball deflects off of Masterson's boot and just wide of the post with Turner scrambling.

(15.38) GOAL! Doncaster Rovers 0-1 Barrow AFC - Doncaster move down to 10th (64 points)

(15.40) Former-Gill Tom Nichols tries an overhead kick which goes well wide, the 2nd placed side's first shot of the match.

(15.40) GOAL! Walsall 2-2 Bradford - Walsall move down to 8th (66 points)

(15.42) GOAL! Sutton Utd 0-1 Crawley Town - Crawley move up to 7th (69 points)

(15.46) The 4th official indicates 3 additional minutes.

(15.50) Half time 0-1

(16.06) The second half kicks off.

(16.08) Nichols pulls the Gills apart and lays it off for a teammate but as dangerous shot is about to come in, Coleman puts in a vital block.

(16.09) GOAL! Sutton Utd 1-1 Crawley Town - Crawley stay 7th (67 points)

(16.18) Akins has the ball inside the box and offloads it. A cross into the heart of the box is cleared as far as Keillor-Dunn, their top-scorer on as a sub for only 2 minutes, who puts a left footed effort just wide.

(16.19) GOAL! Walsall 2-3 Bradford - Walsall move below the Gills to 9th (65 points)

(16.35) Turner makes a great save from Keillor-Dunn. Mansfield moments later win a corner as they start to dominate the match after a Gills change in shape.

(16.38) (15.20) GOAL! Mansfield Town 1-1 Gillingham: Keillor-Dunn

(16.41) (15.20) GOAL! Mansfield Town 2-1 Gillingham: McLoughlin - The Gills drop to 10th (64 points).

(16.41) GOAL! Sutton Utd 2-1 Crawley Town - Crawley stay 7th (66 points)

(16.47) GOAL! Doncaster Rovers 2-2 Barrow AFC - Doncaster move up to 9th (65 points)

(16.51) GOAL! Doncaster Rovers 3-2 Barrow AFC - Doncaster move up to 7th (67 points)

(16.54) Excellent save with his knees by Turner to deny Mansfield a third.

(16.55) GOAL! Sutton Utd 2-2 Crawley Town - Crawley move up to 7th (67 points)

(16.57) FULL TIME 2-1 - Gills are 4 points off the playoffs with 1 game left to play.

Attendance: 8,150 (519)
Position: 11th
Referee: Sam Purkiss
Match highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RWO0selvLc
BBC Match Report: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68804656