[ 29 Dec 22 ] Sutton Utd v GILLS Match Thread

[Garawa]

- The Gills have faced Sutton just twice - a 1-0 win in the reverse fixture back in October and a 3-9 FA Cup Qualifying round defeat in the 1945/6 season.
- Sutton started League 2 with a draw and 4 wins at home. 3 defeats and a draw followed those but they have since won both of their last 2 home league games 1-0.
- Sutton have won 3 and lost 1 of their last 5 league home and away games following back-to-back defeats. In all competitions, they have won 3 of the last 6 following a spell of 2 wins and 8 defeats in 12 league and cup games.
- Sutton have taken 11 leads from their 11 home league games, the joint highest total in the division alongside Northampton. They have managed 3 in 4 home games, the same total the Gills have managed all season home and away.
- In the previous 7 league games for both sides combined, just 2 second half goals have been scored in those 14 games. Both of those were scored by Sutton in their 2-1 Boxing Day victory at Crawley.
- Both the Gills and Sutton have kept 6 league clean sheets this season. The Gills have failed to score in their last 7 league games following a spell in September which saw 5 consecutive blank sheets. The 15 blank sheets is 6 more than the next worse sides (Rochdale & Newport).

(19.46) Kick Off [ 4 - 5 - 1 ]

(19.47) An early strike for Sutton takes a deflection and wrong-foots Turner. Fortunately, it trickles wide for a corner.

(19.59) Dom Jefferies goes studs up in a challenge wiping out the Sutton player. He is very lucky to only get a yellow.

(20.05) MacDonald crosses and finds the head of Jefferies in a fantastic position but he can't generate the required power.

(20.12) Harriott takes a shot from distance which swerved and forced the 'keeper to palm it away two-handed.

(20.17) A lengthy stoppage of play begins after a clash of heads between 2 Sutton players.

(20.28) GOAL! Sutton United 1-0 Gillingham: Baggott (og)

(20.43) Half time 1-0

(20.59) The second half kicks off.

(21.16) A first-time shot for the hosts sees Eastmond fire just over the bar.

(21.29) Jefferies crosses and Mandron stretches but he can't get enough angle to direct it goalwards.

(21.32) GOAL! Sutton United 1-1 Gillingham: McKenzie
The Gills end their club record league run of minutes without scoring and end a goalless run of 7 league games.

(21.47) GOAL! Sutton United 2-1 Gillingham: Eastmond

(21.49) FULL TIME 2-1

Attendance: 3,316 (774)
Position:
Referee: Thomas Parsons
Match highlights:
BBC Match Report: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64061107

[CadburyMan]

29 December 21:37 - Gadzooks - is that an actual GOAL?

[Garawa]

Not sure to be honest, we hadn't scored in the league for over 2 months! But then, there have been 13 games between then and now and we scored in 5 games - all in the cup. Better to watch those games! What an absolute sickener in this game.