Oli Hawkins is hoping to be fit for selection as Gills prepare to welcome Walsall to ME7.
Gillingham v Walsall
Sky Bet League Two
Priestfield Stadium
Saturday February 3
Kick-Off, 3pm
Team News:
Oli Hawkins trained earlier in the week and will be hoping to be involved for the Gills this Saturday, having been substituted at MK Dons last weekend due to injury. Stephen Clemence has confirmed that Dom Jefferies sustained a thigh injury in training and will be absent for at least a couple of weeks.
The Head coach will otherwise have a fully fit squad to choose from when selecting his starting eleven to face the Saddlers.
As for Walsall, Aramide Oteh has returned to training but the Gills fixture might come too soon for him. Jamille Matt returned to first-team action last weekend, while Ross Tierney and Joe Riley are also in contention.
Manager Comments:
Stephen Clemence: “We took a lot of positives from last weekend’s game, the boys have seen it back. There’s always certain areas where we can obviously improve as well, the boys have been shown that too. So, we are now just looking forward to the Walsall game.
“I think Walsall are actually a better team now than when we played them before Christmas, they’ve recruited well. It’s going to be a tough game.
“We can’t be creating four or five big chances and end up not scoring, we have to take more of our chances. That’s the challenge to our boys now."
Mat Sadler: “They’re a football club that are desperate to move forwards and as we know, it’s always a tough place to go when you go away to Gillingham so it’s going to be a tough game and a big challenge for us but as always, it’s all about the focus on us, what we are, what we want to do in the game and that’s what the focus will be on."
Previous Meeting:
We last played Walsall when we travelled to the Poundland Stadium back in October 2023.
Keith Millen's side had the better of all the statistics on the day but a hat-trick from Isaac Hutchinson and a goal from Freddie Drapper secured a 4-1 for the hosts.
Macauley Bonne grabbed the consolation goal for the Gills on a disappointing afternoon in the midlands.
Head-to-Head:
Gillingham – 47
Draw – 25
Walsall – 47
A long history of fixtures against this weekend’s opponents has seen both teams amass 47 victories across all matches in all competitions.
Walsall hold an additional league win over the Gills, owing to their 4-1 win in the reverse fixture back in October. Gillingham have however triumphed in two of the four FA Cup encounters since the two clubs first met back in 1927/28.
Match Officials:
Referee: Charles Breakspear
Assistants: Scott Williams & Damith Bandara
Fourth Official: Jonathon Block
Odds:
Gillingham Win – 21/20
Draw – 23/10
Walsall win – 12/5
Special Bet: Gills to win and both teams to score – 7/2
Tickets:
Tickets are still available to purchase online by visiting the link below.
BUY TICKETS | GILLS V WALSALL
Supporters will also be able to purchase tickets on the day by visiting the club shop before kick-off.
Sat Nav: ME7 2PE