[ 8 Aug 26 ] GILLS v Luton Town Match Thread (EFLC, R1)

[Garawa]

- The Gills start the season with a cup match - something that last occurred in the 2020/1 season when they opened with a 1-0 win at home to Southend. They also started with a cup game in 2012/3 when they won 2-1 at Bristol City, going on to win the league that season.
- The Gills exited the League Cup to Luton in 2023/4 and this tie will be the 4th season in which the sides have met in the various iterations of the competition. The Gills have won 1, drawn 1 and lost 2 of the 4 ties played against the Hatters.
- The Gills have won 41 of the 95 first round matches they have played and lost 38. At home, they have won 24 of the 43 played in the opening round and their home record against higher league opponents in Round 1 stands at 6 wins, 2 draws and 7 defeats.
- This is only the second time the Gills and Luton have met since 2019 with both occasions being in the League Cup. It is the first meeting at Priestfield since November 2018 when the Gills fell to a successive home defeat against the Hatters. The Gills last win was at home back in October 2015.
- This is the 64th match between the sides in all competitions. The Gills have won 18 whilst Luton have won 31 and just 14 have been drawn. The Gills are winless in 4 against the Hatters, losing 3 of them and have won 1 and lost 4 of the previous 7 meetings.

[Sat 8th Aug 2026] EFL Carabao League Cup, Round 1: Gillingham FC v Luton Town
Opposition Manager: Jack Wilshere. Matchday Team: Josh Keeley, [c] Kal Naismith, George Johnston, Hakeem Odoffin, Joe Jones (Harrison Ashby), Liam Walsh (Sverre Sandal), Benny Benagr (Gideon Kodua), Jake Richards (Shayden Morris), Jordan Clark, Jayden Luker (Kasey Palmer), Nahki Wells
Opposition League Position: Sky Bet League 1 (N/A)
Referee: Stephen Parkinson
Attendance: 4,015 (842)

(15.00) Kick Off [ 3 - 4 - 2 - 1 ]
(15.11) The visitors started strongly without testing the Gills' emergency loan goalkeeper announced just an hour before kick off. Hale has the best opportunity though going through the centre on goal but the keeper clears at his feet right on the edge of the box.
(15.13) Mason goes at full stretch to deny Clark whose effort came after flicking the ball down off his shoulder and then the outside of his right boot.
(15.43) GOAL! Gillingham 0-1 Luton Town: Wells
(15.48) Half time 0-1

(16.05) The second half kicks off.
(16.09) Strong challenge from Zane Albarus who is booked.
(16.16) Benagr receives a long ball and is in a great position to make it 2. His touches bounces along his shin taking it a little wide and he shoots just over and wide. A minute later, he strides down the left and pulls it back for Richards but the ball is slammed off his feet for a corner as he shapes to shoot.
(16.19) GOAL! Gillingham 0-2 Luton Town: Benagr
(16.26) Long stoppage after a 2 minute drinks break is followed by FIVE Gills changes and FOUR by the visitors.
(16.32) Luton pull the back for Wells on the edge of the 6 yard box and he somehow puts it over.
(16.35) Morris' effort goes into the side netting, touched by the 'keeper for a corner. Mason then taps onto the roof of the net for another corner before tapping round the post for a third. After a passage of passing from it, Luton score again.
(16.37) GOAL! Gillingham 0-3 Luton Town: Kodua
(16.50) There will be 8 minutes of stoppage time.
(16.57) Kodua fully stretches his left foot and just guides the ball off the post.
(16.58) FULL TIME 0-3

Match Report: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/c5y3pkpdknmt
Match highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fGIjk2wtrQ