Once again, we trawl round looking at the facts and figures of our next opponents, and this time in the shape of Gillingham FC. The Gills are a funny team, a thing those of you that like to have a punt on a Saturday will get all to readily. They are a team you can never trust, just when you think they will win they go and lose, and vice versa. Saying that if we aspire for a higher league placing we have to go there and win. One crumb of comfort is they appear to be a side that likes to hit you on the break and pressing us high up the pitch maybe out of their comfort zone as it will go totally against their style of play.
If that’s their game plan we better watch out for former Cobblers man Vadaine Oliver who is capable at hurting us on the break, and another to watch out for is big John Akinde who is always an aerial threat from corners and freekicks. Between that pairing they have been responsible for 15 goals and 7 assists, top scoring Jordan Graham can also be a thorn in our side accounting for 8 Gills goals this term plus 6 assists, so between the trio they can account for over half the goals scored by Gillingham this season and more assists than the rest of the team put together.
Without further ado, let’s take a look at Gillingham.
THE SEASON SO FAR – GILLINGHAM – The Gills are currently laying in 15th spot with a record of PLAYED 31, WON 12, DRAWN 5, LOST 14, GF 39 & GA 42 and 41 POINTS.
CURRENT LEAGUE FORM AT A GLANCE – LWLWLD
HOME LEAGUE RESULTS 2020/21
Gillingham 2 Bristol Rovers 0
Gillingham 1 Peterborough 3
Gillingham 0 Lincoln 3
Gillingham 4 Crewe 1
Gillingham 2 Rochdale 2
Gillingham 0 Burton Albion 1
Gillingham 0 Accrington 2
Gillingham 2 Swindon 0
Gillingham 2 AFCW 1
Gillingham 1 Charlton 1
Gillingham 0 Sunderland 2
Gillingham 0 Fleetwood 2
Gillingham 0 Portsmouth 2
Gillingham 3 Oxford Utd 1
Gillingham 2 Blackpool 0
Gillingham 0 Hull City 2
A Home record of PLAYED 16, WON 6, DRAWN 2, LOST 8, GF 19 & GA 23.
YEAR OF FORMATION – 1893 as New Brompton
CLUB NICKNAME – The Gills
HOME GROUND – Medway Priestfield Stadium (11,582)
THE MANAGER – Larger than life itself its Stephen J Evans aged 58 and born in Glasgow.
Evans began his youth career at Clyde United in 1979 as striker but his career was blighted by knee injuries and he was forced to retire after just 168 games and a good strike rate of 42 goals in that time. He also had spells at Albion Rovers, Ayr United, Hamilton Academicals and St Johnstone. His first managerial role was at Stamford in 1994, and after four years there he moved to Boston United and very quickly came to the attention of the FA with the much publicised contract irregularities scandal in which he was found guilty of and served a 20 month suspension from the game and fined £8,000. Apparently, Evans was involved to some degree in falsifying contract details, presumably getting round some sort of Fair Play regulations in place at that time. Evans has been no stranger to the authorities for tax evasion for one, and on one occasion he was escorted from the Blundell Park ground at halftime by Humberside Police accused of foul and abusive language aimed at the 4th official.
Getting back on subject, Evans also managed Crawley Town, Rotherham United, Leeds United, Mansfield Town, Peterborough, and Gillingham since May 2019. For all the bad about Evans you cannot deny he has had a fairly good career albeit at a pretty low level. His career stats stand at GAMES 1,042, WON 445, DRAWN 285, LOST 312 giving him a useful 42 % WIN RATIO.
MASCOT – Tommy Trueblue who takes the form of a horse, presumably because of the county badge of Kent.FAMOUS FANS – Oz Clarke (Food & Drink Presenter) and Brian Moore (Football Commentator).
PLAYED FOR BOTH – Former Dons fans favourite Ouss Cisse, also having turned out for both are Adam Chicksen, Ben Chorley, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, Tom Flanagan, Luke Howell, Albert Jarrett, Rowan Vine and George C Williams.
FORMER MANAGERS – A few B List managers to tell you about, Glenn Roeder who once managed West Ham, Micky Flanagan, Tony Pullis, Peter Taylor, Andy Hesenthaler, former Dons No 2 to Robbo John Gorman, former Dons Manager “Mad Dog” Martin Allen and the now sadly departed Justin Edinburgh.
SHOOTERS BOOTS – Jordan Graham with 8 goals.
CURRENT INTERNET ODDS – Gillingham 2/1 Draw 5/2 MK Dons 6/4
LAST TIME ROUND – Oct 17th, 2020 – MK Dons 2 Gillingham 0
Team – Nicholls, Williams, Keogh, Lewington, Poole, Thompson (Gladwin), Kasumu, Fraser (Houghton), Harvie, Jerome (Mason), Morris.
Unused Subs – Cargill, O’Hora, Sorenson, L Walker.
Goals – Jerome 19’, Morris 47’.
Referee – Neil Hair (4 yellows)Attendance – Behind Closed Doors
HEAD 2 HEAD
2020/21 – MK Dons 2 Gillingham 0 (Jerome, Morris)
2019/20 – Gillingham 3 MK Dons 1 (Gilbey)
2017/18 – Gillingham 1 MK Dons 2 (Aneke, Williams)
2017/18 – MK Dons 1 Gillingham 0 (Sow)
2016/17 – MK Dons 3 Gillingham 2 (Muirhead, Barnes, Lewington)
2016/17 – Gillingham 1 MK Dons 0
2014/15 – Gillingham 4 MK Dons 2 (Cole, Reeves)
2014/15 – MK Dons 4 Gillingham 2 (Grigg, McFadzean, 2 Own Goals)
2013/14 – MK Dons 0 Gillingham 1
2013/14 – Gillingham 3 MK Dons 2 (Bamford 2)
2009/10 – Gillingham 2 MK Dons 2 (McCracken, Easter)
2009/10 – MK Dons 2 Gillingham 0 (Easter, Wilbraham)
2007/08 – Gillingham 1 MK Dons 1 (Johnson) JPT – Dons won on pens 5-4
2005/06 – MK Dons 1 Gillingham 2 (G Smith)
2005/06 – Gillingham 3 MK Dons 0
