[ 26 Dec 22 ] GILLS v Colchester Utd Match Thread

[Garawa]

- Results between the sides are very even with the Gills winning 30 meetings to Colchester's 29 wins. There have been a further 27 meetings drawn. In all competitions, the Gills have won 3 and drawn 1 of the last 5 meetings and they have lost 2 of the last 9.
- This is the first league meeting between the sides this season but both met in the EFL Trophy in October. 3 previous seasons saw cup fixtures since last meeting in the league in 2015/16. In League games, the Gills have won 2 and lost 5 of the last 9 meetings.
- In all competitions, the Gills have won their last 2 trips to Colchester and have won 3 and lost 1 of the last 5 visits. At Priestfield however, they have won just 1 of the last 9 home league and cup meetings and have lost 4 of them.
- Colchester are unbeaten in 4 home league games (2 wins) but on the road, they have lost all of their last 7 and 10 of the 11 away games played this season - the other was a 1-1 draw at Walsall.
- Colchester are the only League 2 side not to have kept an away clean sheet whilst the Gills have the most home blank sheets (6). Home and away, Colchester's 2 clean sheets is the lowest total in the division whilst the Gills' 14 blank sheets is the highest.
- The Gills have taken the fewest leads in the division (3) leading the fewest wins in the division (2). Colchester have conceded the joint highest number of leads (17) leading to the joint highest number of defeats in the division (13).

(15.02) Kick Off [ 5 - 4 - 1 ]
The Gills first game under new owner, Brad Gallinson.

(15/11) Gills with a sweeping move down the right and neat flick allows the ball to evade all defenders but it reaches the 'keeper just before Reeves could poke home.

(15.21) Adelakun goes down in the box and looked a certain penalty but a corner is awarded instead.

(15.23) A strong low horizontal ball from Colchester is somehow tapped over the bar from 5 yards out.

(15.27) GOAL! Gillingham 0-1 Colchester Utd: Tchamadeu

(15.43) Adelakun stretches and pokes the ball goalward. It strikes an arm in a normal position and appeals are waves away. Moments later, a cross hangs in the air which Williams attacks but, under pressure, he gets under the ball and it loops into the arms of the 'keeper.

(15.44) Jefferies looks to shoot which would really have tested the 'keeper but it's smashed away quickly. Ehmer and Tovide come to blows in the dugout after the ball evaded them and both are yellow carded.

(15.50) Half time 0-1

(16.07) The second half kicks off.

(16.11) Ben Reeves goes down hard and looks to be in a lot of trouble. After a long delay, he is stretchered off.

(16.21) Callum Harriott comes on for his Gills debut.

(16.23) A strong Colchester shot is firmly parried away by Turner.

(16.48) A Gills corner is headed wide by Baggott with the goal at his mercy.

(17.01) Green goes down in the box at the Rainham. Despite the huge noise and apparent clarity of the challenge, the ref waves away the appeals.

(17.07) FULL TIME 0-1
The Gills set a new club record of 647 minutes without a league goal, beating the previous record, also set this season of 644.

Attendance: 4,962 (420)
Position: 24th
Referee: Sam Purkiss
Match highlights:
BBC Match Report: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64022635