[ 21 Apr 25 ] GILLS v AFC Wimbledon Match Thread

[Garawa]

- The Gills have lost the last 2 meetings after winning 3 in a row home and away in all competitions. At Priestfield, since the Dons last win at the Gills in February 2020, the Gills are unbeaten in 4 with 3 of them wins including both the last 2 home meetings.
- AFC Wimbledon are winless in 3 away league games since their last win - their only league victory on the road in 10 games. They have scored 7 and conceded 8 in those 10 games.
- Since an unbeaten spell of 12 league and cup games without defeat between December and February, AFC Wimbledon have lost 4 of their last 11 games and have won 3 of the last 13. Wimbledon have drawn 4 of their last 6 games whilst the Gills have drawn 12 of their last 19.
- The Gills' 14 first half goals scored is the fewest in League 2 season. They have scored 7 so far in the second half of the season and only Harrogate (6) have scored fewer. AFC Wimbledon have conceded the fewest goals before half time (13) with just 3 in the 20 games in the second half of the season.
- At 0.83 per game, AFC Wimbledon's 19 goals conceded in the first half of the season and the 13 (0.65 per game) so far in the second are the best defensive totals in League 2. The 18 away goals conceded is also the fewest in League 2 and their +23 total is the best goal difference in the division.
- 20 of AFC Wimbledon's 43 League 2 games have seen them keep a clean sheet, the most in League 2, with 7 of them coming on the road however they have only managed 2 in their last 8 games and none in their last 6 on the road.
- AFC Wimbledon have conceded 16 leads in League 2, the fewest in the division alongside the 8 that have been taken by the home sides in their 21 away games. Their 579 minutes behind in League 2 (and 354 minutes away from home) is the shortest number of minutes behind.
- AFC Wimbledon's 119 shots on target faced is the fewest amount in League 2. 48 (2.4 per game) have come in the second half of the season, conceding 3.0 on average in their last 5 games. The Gills' 136 shots on target is the 3rd fewest amount taken but the last 5 have seen 20 (4.0 per game on average).

[Mon 21st April 2025] EFL Sky Bet League 2: Gillingham FC v AFC Wimbledon
Opposition Manager: Jonnie Jackson Matchday Team: Owen Goodman, [c] Ryan Johnson, Joe Lewis, Riley Harbottle, James Tilley (Josh Kelly), Alistair Smith, Callum Maycock (Sam Hutchinson), Josh Neufville, Aron Sasu, Osman Foyo (Omar Bugiel), Matty Stevens (Joe Pigott)
Opposition League Position: Sky Bet League 2 (5th)
Referee: Gavin Ward
Attendance: 7,641 (1,472)

(15:00) Kick Off [ 5 - 1 - 3 - 1 ]
Due to a kit clash, the Gills are playing in their green kit.
(15.19) A Wimbledon free kick is headed just over the bar.
(15.45) There will be 2 additional minutes at the end of the half.
(15.47) Half time 0-0

(16.04) The second half kicks off.
(16.22) GOAL! Gillingham 1-0 AFC Wimbledon: Gbode
(16.36) A long Hutton throw is headed on by a Wimbledon defender and narrowly wide of the post for a corner.
(16.49) The 4th official indicates 4 minutes will be added.
(16.52) The goal is so far the only shot on target in the match.
(16.53) FULL TIME 1-0

Gills' League Position After Game: 17th
Match Report: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/cn4wlv80yvwt
Match highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rOD5vOZIko

[lidbid46]

I was at the game and thought Gills stood up well to a very physical contest. I’m sure that the Premier league Prima Donnas wouldn’t stand for the aggressive nature of second division football! Did anyone notice the scenes at the end by the Wimbledon fans? Their reaction was bizarre to say the least. I understand that they were upset to lose ground for the race at the top, but a good few hundred of them were toxic; yelling abuse, all the hand signs you can think of and actually trying to pull some of the players into their midst. Some of the players were visibly upset and a couple seemed to want to scrap with their own fans! Their staff quickly got involved and pulled them away but I thought it was disgusting, given the season those players have given them. Why are football supporters so precious that they believe they have the right to win every game?

[Garawa]

I saw that also and thought to myself, which Gills player has riled them so much. Towards the end of the match, I thought they got a bit annoyed with Max Clark but then I saw them actually having verbal altercations with their own players. Maybe no shots on target riled them up. I thought they approached the match a bit strange. Their fans were down very early like it was the last game of the season and even their team stayed over and got to the ground with hours to spare! They are only an hour down the road!

[sotongill]

Love the spelling mistake ( probably autocorrect ) at 16.52 in your match summary

[Garawa]

Love the spelling mistake ( probably autocorrect ) at 16.52 in your match summary

Oh wow, whoops! Yes, I do these quickly at the match whilst watching the game so often comes up as gibberish when I a) am watching what is on the pitch at the time of typing and b) don't bring my reading glasses and can't see properly.

I have corrected said mistake, thank you!