[ 7 Dec 24 ] GILLS v Salford City Match Thread

[Garawa]

- There have only been 4 previous meetings between the sides with the Gills winning the last 3 after Salford won the first game 3-0 at Priestfield. The Gills are the only side to score let alone win as the home side in these 4 ties.
- Despite losing 3 games fewer than the Gills (Salford have 5 defeats in 17 games to the Gills 8 in 17), they sit just a point and a place above the Gills in the League 2 table.
- Salford have 1 league defeat in 7 home and away games. It extends to 1 defeat in 10 in all competitions, a run which has seen them win 6 games including 3 in their current 4-game unbeaten spell.
- Salford have only won 1 of their 8 away league games but they have also only lost 1 and are unbeaten in 4, drawing the last 2. Since an away defeat in April, 10 league and cup away games produced just 2 defeats. The Gills have lost 4 of their last 5 league games at Priestfield.
- As well as Tranmere, the Gills and Salford have scored just 6 first half goals - the fewest in League 2. Both the Gills and Salford have also conceded 7 goals before half time meaning the 13 first half goals scored and conceded for both sides is the fewest in the division.

EFL Sky Bet League 2: Gillingham FC v Salford City
Opposition Manager: Karl Robinson. Matchday Team: Matty Young, Tom Edwards, Ossama Ashley, Tyrese Fornah, Matty Lund, Cole Stockton, Kelly N'Mai, Ben Woodburn (Kylian Kouassi), [c] Curtis Tilt, Haji Mnoga (Conor McAleny), Luke Garbutt
Opposition League Position: Sky Bet League 2 (11th)
Referee: Tom Nield
Attendance: 5,296 (58)

(15:01) Kick Off [ 4 - 4 - 2 ]
(15.16) Masterson's touch is awful and Salford are allowed to storm into the box but Morris saves brilliantly from Stockton.
(15.30) Joe Gbode goes down after a heavy challenge (seemingly a shoulder to his chin after Joe was blindside to the Salford player) leading to a lengthy stoppage.
(15.43) Jayden Clarke arrives at pace into the box and goes down after the defender slips and brings the Gills attacker down. The ref decides Clarke's initial contact on the defender was enough to have caused it and deems a penalty not worthy.
(15.46) A minimum of 7 minutes will be added to the first half.
(15.53) Half Time 0-0

(16.09) The second half kicks off.
(16.12) GOAL! Gillingham 1-0 Salford City: J Clarke
(16.13) Fabulous play by Nolan who forces a brilliant save. The 'keeper can only parry it to the feet of Jayden Clarke who smashes home but the offside flag goes up.
(16.23) A Salford back-pass trickles under the 'keepers feet and towards the goal line. He runs around and hooks the ball off the line.
(16.49) Great save by Morris from McAleny with the striker right in front and ready for any rebound.
(16.54) At least 4 minutes of stoppage time will be played.
(16.59) FULL TIME 1-0

Gills' League Position After Game: 10th
Match Report: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/c8780yvl8wrt
Match highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sAjblgGQNc