Fleetwood Town welcome Gillingham to Highbury Stadium this Saturday in an EFL League Two fixture. The Cod Army, currently 9th in the table with four points from two games, look to build on two consecutive 1-0 victories.
How is Fleetwood Town's form?
Manager Matt Lawlor's side has begun the season with perfect defensive discipline. They have scored one goal and conceded none across their opening League Two match and a Carabao Cup tie, giving them a plus-one goal difference. Both of those narrow wins came against Chesterfield, with veteran captain Ched Evans netting the decisive goal on each occasion. The 37-year-old striker, who contributed six goals and eight assists last term, remains a central figure. His partnership with forward Will Davies, who provided an assist in one of those matches, is developing. Fans can track the team's progress on our standings page.
What is the latest team news?
Fleetwood's summer plans were disrupted by a significant injury to new signing Kane Thompson-Sommers. The midfielder is expected to be sidelined for approximately four months. His absence could open a starting role for Andy Cannon, a former Wrexham player who adds experience in the middle of the park. Another fresh face is attacker Aaron Loupalo-Bi, who joined on a season-long loan from Premier League side Fulham. The full roster is available on our squad page.
What is the head-to-head history?
Historical records favour the hosts ahead of this League Two clash. Fleetwood Town have won ten of the 21 previous meetings with Gillingham, who have secured just four victories alongside seven draws. The most recent encounter ended in a draw at Priestfield Stadium back in March. Defender Shaun Rooney scored a late equaliser for Fleetwood in that match, a moment that could provide a psychological boost. You can review past and future matches on our fixtures section.
What challenges does Gillingham face?
Gillingham manager Gareth Ainsworth, 53, has a selection headache in attack. Striker Seb Palmer-Houlden completed a transfer to Motherwell this past Wednesday, leaving the Gills with only two senior forwards available for the trip to the Fylde Coast. This comes after a 3-0 defeat to Walsall in their last outing, though Ainsworth told reporters he "was happy with the number of chances his side created." Goalkeeper Ashley Maynard-Brewer will need to be alert against an in-form Evans.
Fleetwood Town's solid start has them just two points behind early leaders Barnet. A third straight win at their historic Highbury Stadium home, where they have played since 1939, would solidify their position in the upper half of the table. The match kicks off at 3pm BST on Saturday, 22nd August, as reported by www.google.com. Maintaining this defensive resilience will be key to their ambitions this season.
