[ 9 Aug 25 ] GILLS v Walsall Match Thread

[Garawa]

- It is honours even between the sides with 47 wins each and a further 28 matches have been drawn - including each of the last 3 fixtures. The Gills are winless in 9 meetings since their last win - a 1-0 win at the Bescot in November 2017.
- The Gills' 0-0 draw at home last season made it 3 consecutive home draws against Walsall and extended a winless run of 10 matches at Priestfield against them (8 draws) since Gary Mulligan's brace earned the Gills' last home win back in September 2007.
- Walsall won just 3 of their final 21 matches during the regular league season. In all competitions (including play-off matches), they won 22 and lost 5 of their first 35 games but lost 9 and won 5 (including both play-off semi-final games) of the 26 games after. They have won 4 of their last 5 games - the other being the play off final loss.
- Walsall ended last season as top scorers with 1.63 goals per game and the most in the second halves at 1.13 per game. They scored twice in their opening fixture with the winner coming in the 90th minute.
- Last season, Walsall won the most corners (6.22 per game) and had the best difference between corners won and conceded (+116). Despite their 2-1 win last weekend against Swindon, they only managed 1 corner in the match, the fewest in that round of fixtures.

[Sat 9th August 2025] EFL Sky Bet League 2: Gillingham FC v Walsall
Opposition Manager: Mat Sadler Matchday Team: Myles Roberts, [c] Aiden Flint, Mason Hancock, Connor Barrett, Rico Brown, A. Pressley (Jamille Matt), Evan Weir (Albert Adomah), Lewis Warrington (Jake Hollman), Jamie Jellis (Courtney Clarke), Charlie Lakin, Jonny Stuttle (Josh Gordon)
Opposition League Position: Sky Bet League 2 (4th)
Referee: Ross Martin
Attendance: 6,498 (372)

(15:01) Kick Off [ 3 - 4 - 1 - 2 ]
(15.22) The first real effort of the match as Dack receives a header away from goal and volleys it narrowly over the bar.
(15.35) A Walsall free kick (after Morris received a yellow card for a slight foul outside the box) goes to the far post. Morris tries to gather but it's loose and he gathers at the second attempt after a toe poke from just a yard out.
(15.46) 1 minute will be added to the half.
(15.47) Half time 0-0

(16.04) The second half kicks off.
(16.16) GOAL! Gillingham 1-0 Walsall: Dack
(16.44) A Gills throw results in a scramble in front of goal which somehow the keeper gathers with the ball rolling loose.
(16.49) The fourth official indicates 7 minutes will be added.
(16.52) A long Walsall through ball straight down the middle reaches the stretched boot of Gordon who tries to poke it past Morris but he adjusts, flexing quickly to his left to gather.
(16.56) FULL TIME 1-0

Gills' League Position After Game: 10th
Match Report: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/c620xyx1dwdt
Match highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMa-qoLFcbs