[ 26 Dec 23 ] GILLS v Crawley Town Match Thread

[Garawa]

- The Gills have won 9 of the meetings over Crawley who have won 3 themselves. A further 3 were drawn. The Gills are unbeaten in 10 league and cup meetings since last Crawley's last win back in September 2013. The Gills have won 7 of them including the last 2.
- The Gills have won their last 3 home league and cup games against Crawley and are unbeaten in 5. The 7 matches at Priestfield have seen 5 Gills' wins and just 1 Crawley win - a 0-1 result back in March 2012 which started a 3-game winning run, all of their wins against the Gills home and away.
- Crawley beat Colchester in their previous away league match ending a run of 3 consecutive away league losses at the end of a winless run of 5 games on the road. Their 2 home games played since have ended in defeat making it 3 losses in 4 league games.
- Crawley are 1 of 5 sides yet to keep an away clean sheet in the league this season. 4 of their 10 games saw them concede 1 goal and 3 saw them concede at least 3 including a 6-0 loss at Swindon.
- Crawley have kept just 2 league clean sheets this season and only Sutton (1) have enjoyed fewer. They have conceded in 12 consecutive league matches, letting in 22 goals in the process. The Gills have scored 19 and conceded 28 in all their previous 22 league games this season.
- Crawley have taken the most home leads in League 2 (12) and a further 6 away giving them the joint 4th most leads in the division. However, when Crawley take an away lead, they are ahead for the shortest length of time - an average of 18.3 minutes per lead.

(13:02) EFL Sky Bet League 2: Gillingham FC v Crawley Town - Kick Off [ 5 - 3 - 2 ]

(13.20) A mix of Nichols and Nadesan carve open the defence and create an opening. Nadesan slides in Dieng who blazes over the bar from the right side of the penalty area.

(13.25) The Gills have an extra man in defence, outnumbering a Crawley attack. Malone's touch is heavy leaving the door open, He tries turning the attacker who taps the ball away from home and Malone pulls him down right on the edge of the box. Will Wright takes it and scores.

(13.26) GOAL! Gillingham 0-1 Crawley Town: Wright

(13.31) Nichols in a good position just outside the box and with only the 'keeper to beat, slices a left-footed shot well wide of goal.

(13.41) Nichols heads towards goal. It goes near Masterson who heads to the top corner and sees the 'keeper pluck it out of the air. Masterson is flagged offside in any case.

(13.47) The fourth official indicates 3 additional minutes.

(13.50) Masterson flicks the ball into the net but the offside flag goes up.

(13.51) Half time 0-1 [48:19]

(14.07) The second half kicks off.

(14.12) Orsi for Crawley beats the outstretched dive of Turner but not the post as his shot goes just wide.

(14.17) Masterson works some space for a shot and he has little options around him so he takes another touch towards the box and fires a tame effort down the middle and it's an easy save.

(14.19) A Gills header towards goal on the edge of the 6 yard box finds Nadesan 2-3 yards away from goal. He pokes the ball goalward and over the bar.

(14.20) The 'keeper saves a Gills shot and the rebound is blocked. The ball falls to Jonny Williams who only has to tap home but it's somehow blocked and cleared.

(14.21) Jonny Williams forces a brilliant save from the Crawley 'keeper.

(14.30) Nadesan looks offside but no flag goes up. The 'keeper comes out and Nads taps the ball past him and attempts to run round him. The ball trickles across the right post and he attempts to tap into the empty net but the ball is on the touchline by now, hits the post and goes out for a goal kick.

(14.33) GOAL! Gillingham 0-2 Crawley Town: Roles

(14.48) Ehmer glances a header wide and gathered by the 'keeper from a Mahoney free kick. Had he attacked the ball, it would surely have been a goal.

(14.53) The referee adds on 5 additional minutes.

(14.53) Nichols, back to goal, bicycle kicks towards goal. It is going wide but flicked away and the Gills keep it alive. A shot comes in and put wide for a corner before a Gills attacker can slot home.

(14.56) The loose ball is tapped goalward and Gills spring forward. Nadesan cuts a ball back into the box to Hawkins unmarked in the centre of the box but he air kicks and the chance is lost.

(14.57) FULL TIME 0-2 [98:29]

Attendance: 7,150 (288)
Position:
Referee: Ben Atkinson
Match highlights:
BBC Match Report: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67757079