[ 1 Jan 26 ] Swindon Town v GILLS Match Thread

[Garawa]

- The Gills face their 3rd New Year's Day fixture in 6 seasons, all away from home. They are unbeaten on New Year's Day home and away in the previous 3 games (1 win) since last losing on the 1st of January - a 0-2 loss at Southend in 2019 and their only defeat in 8 New Year's Day matches).
- Following close results against Colchester (32 wins and 33 defeats), the Gills results against Swindon are also extremely close. The Gills have won 35 and Swindon have won 36 with a further 35 meetings drawn. The last 3 games have been drawn and so to have 5 of the last 6.
- The Gills are unbeaten in the last 8 meetings with Swindon. 3 of those were wins with 2 coming at the County ground (March 21 and October 23). The Gills have enjoyed 2 wins and 2 draws there since Swindon's last home win (Feb 17) and that defeat was the Gills only away loss in 8 visits (4 wins).
- Swindon have won 1 and lost 1 of their last 2 home matches after going unbeaten at home in 4 league and cup games (3 wins with 2 in cup games). In the league, that defeat followed 7 home league games without defeat (4 wins).
- Swindon have won 5 of their last 11 league games on their way into the top 3. They lost 2 games during that spell however both have come in the previous 5 matches.
- Swindon and MK Dons have both scored 22 before half time and both have a first half goal difference of +9 (both figures the highest amount in League 2). Those 22 first half goals are equal to or more than the total goals of all 90 minutes of 4 sides in League 2 (the Gills have scored 31).
- Swindon have given away 6 leads in their 11 home games but only 1 in their last 5. When falling behind at home in the league, they are behind for the shortest period of time per deficit - an average of 18.2 minutes for each lead taken by their opponents.

[Thur 1st January 2026] EFL Sky Bet League 2: Swindon Town v Gillingham FC
Opposition Manager: Ian Holloway Matchday Team: Connor Ripley, Filozofe Mabete (Jake Tabor), Ryan Tafazolli, [c] Will Wright, Finley Munroe, Tom Nichols, Gavin Kilkenny, Joel McGregor, Darren Oldaker (James Ball), Ollie Palmer, Aaron Drinan
Opposition League Position: Sky Bet League 2 (2nd)
Referee: James Durkin
Attendance: 9,986 (896)

(15.00) Kick Off [ 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 ]
(15.04) Rowe crosses and finds the head of Coleman in a perfect position but his header is guided just over the bar.
(15.18) Drinan drives forward from a through ball and blasts just over on the half volley.
(15.26) A Gills free kick finds the head of Andrews unmarked but he heads straight at the 'keeper.
(15.33) From a Gills corner, both Ripley and Nevitt go for the ball. The 'keeper misses and Nevitt heads his head to the ball but he puts it wide with the goal wide open.
(15.45) 1 minute will be added to the half.
(15.46) Half time 0-0

(16.02) The second half kicks off.
(16.11) A couple of Swindon corners don't cause difficulties for the Gills but could have gone anywhere. The first was a fierce driven corner which goes through everyone in the box and out the other side. The second fall loose but is stabbed away before the host could convert and the half clearance is curled narrowly over the bar.
(16.15) GOAL! Swindon Town 1-0 Gillingham: Tafazolli
(16.19) A Will Wright free kick for the hosts goes narrowly wide of the post.
(16.23) An instinctive point-blank save by a Coleman header from inside the 6 yard box gives the Gills a corner.
(16.24) Another Gills corner causes panic. The loose ball isn't cleared or tapped home and when eventually the Gills head the ball goalward, Ripley against parries the ball away and its cleared from the far post.
(16.26) A quick move by the Gills ends with Nevitt going down under a challenge by Monroe inside the box and the ref is happy it wasn't a foul.
(16.43) Jonny Smith hits the post and Dack almost converts the rebound.
(16.47) A minimum of 6 additional minutes will be added.
(16.48) GOAL! Swindon Town 2-0 Gillingham: Drinan
(16.53) FULL TIME 2-0

Gills' League Position After Game: 16th
Match Report: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/c3e0gp2j4k9t
Match highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFpBEwJ0gZo