Gillingham will be aiming to avoid a third league defeat in a row on Saturday when they host Fleetwood Town in League One action. 

After sitting fourth in the table after five games, losses against MK Dons and Portsmouth have seen Steve Evans’ side slip to 12th ahead of their crunch tie this weekend.

Tuesday’s 2-0 loss against Portsmouth was an improvement on the weekend defeat at MK Dons, but Evans will hope that his team can pick up a win against a below-par Fleetwood side ahead of tough games against Ipswich and Sunderland.

Fleetwood, who finished in the play-off spots last season, lay 15th in League One after a lacklustre start to their campaign. Despite recently beating league leaders Hull City 4-1, Joey Barton’s men have just two wins from their opening seven games, and most recently lost 1-0 at Accrington Stanley on Tuesday.

Gills captain Kyle Dempsey is a doubt for the game after missing the Portsmouth match with a foot injury. According to Steve Evans, he has a “60/40 against” chance of being fit for the game.

Evans told the press that Gillingham have “three or four injuries, nothing serious” ahead of the game. Stuart O’Keefe remains out with a broken leg.

Last season’s equivalent was abandoned just before it was due to be played after the season was suspended, and ultimately cut short, because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Therefore the last meeting was way back in December 2019. The game was drawn 1-1 after Gillingham’s Alex Jakubiak cancelled out Paddy Madden’s opener.

Fans of course will not be able to attend the game in person, but an iFollow pass can be purchased for £10 to stream the game live.

Gillingham season ticket holders can watch for free via a code that should have been received from the club.

Kick-off is scheduled for 13:00 BST.

Image courtesy of Gillingham FC