[ 15 Aug 26 ] Gills v Walsall FC Match Thread

[Garawa]

- It is very even between the sides with the Gills leading the wins by 48 to Walsall's 47. Just 29 of the 124 meetings have been drawn, however 5 have come in the previous 8. The Gills are unbeaten in 5 against Walsall (1 win) since the Saddler's home win in October 2023.
- The Gills won this fixture last season after 3 successive home draws against Walsall. This unbeaten run of 4 came after Walsall's last victory at Priestfield - a 3-0 win back in January 2019, their only win in 7 visits.
- The Gills have only lost 1 of the last 7 home games against Walsall but have also won only 1. That win is their only home win over Walsall in 11 attempts (during which time they had also lost only twice) meaning that 8 were drawn including 5 of the last 7 home meetings.
- In all competitions, last season Walsall started their campaign with 9 wins and 2 defeats from their opening 13 league and cup games. They then won a further 9 from the 21 matches that followed. They ended their season with 14 defeats in their final 26 games.
- In 2026, Walsall have won 6 of their 26 matches. 5 of those have come away from home including 3 wins from their previous 6 away games, most recently their win at Bristol City in the League Cup last weekend.

[Sat 15th Aug 2026] EFL Sky Bet League 2: Gillingham FC v Walsall
Opposition Manager: Lee Grant. Matchday Team: Jed Ward, Mason Hancock (Harrison Burke), [c] James Connolly, Declan Skura, Elicha Ahui (Roman Dixon), Reece Smith, Sven Sprangler, Charlie Crew (Isaac Moore), Lewis Simper (Courtney Clarke), Aaron Pressley, Andrew Dallas (Taj Sodje)
Opposition League Position: Sky Bet League 2 (N/A)
Referee: Emily Heaslip
Attendance: 6,125

(15.00) Kick Off [ 3 - 4 - 2 - 1 ]
(15.03) Succession of corners for the Gills ends with the Walsall keeper gathering at the outstretched boot of Goodwin.
(15.32) Walsall strike from the edge of the box goes just wide of the left post.
(15.45) 6 minutes is added.
(15.49) Long range 20 yard drive by Hale is tipped round the post for a corner. Then Goodwin curls a deflected shot onto the top of the bar.
(15.50) Brophy with a fantastic driven shot hits the top of the crossbar.
(15.51) Half Time 0-0

(16.07) The second half kicks off.
(16.17) The Walsall keeper is stranded. Gills can't capitalise on the open goal. Hale forces a fine save as the keeper retreats back.
(16.26) From 10 yards out, somehow Goodwin puts a shot wide when seemingly easier to score. Walsall break immediately and a goalline scramble ends with ref whistle for a foul on Maynard-Brewer.
(16.27) Fantastic save from Hale after twisting onto his right foot. From the corner, Harris can't quite dig a shot from between his feet at close range and it's saved.
(16.29) Goodwin slams a shot off the bar.
(16.39) Brophy’s shot is hard enough to curl wildly passed the far post.
(16.40) Great cross for the head of Palmer-Houlden but he heads wide unchallenged.
(16.42) GOAL! Gillingham 0-1 Walsall (Moore)
(16.45) Should have been 2. A ball into the box is sliced wide from only 4 yards out.
(16.48) Good save from Maynard-Brewer at his near post to concede a corner.
(16.51) GOAL! Gillingham 0-2 Walsall (Connolly)
(16.52) The 4th official signals 6 additional minutes.
(16.42) GOAL! Gillingham 0-3 Walsall (Pressley)
(16.59) FULL TIME 0-3

Gills' League Position After Game: 23rd
Match Report: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/cxm2g9v8g16rt
Match highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9s32YYc-fs