Match Preview: Gillingham v Pompey

All you need to know about League One test

20 October 2020

Pompey will look to continue their unbeaten league record on the road when they visit Gillingham this evening (6.30pm kick-off).

Kenny Jackett’s side showcased some scintillating attacking play to beat Burton in their last away game, which followed a goalless draw at Rochdale.

Their next opponents are currently sitting a couple of places higher in eighth spot, having earned two more points.

But the Gills come into the contest on the back of a 2-0 defeat at an MK Dons outfit who were bottom of the table.

Prior to that, though, Steve Evans’ men had enjoyed an unbeaten run of four fixtures that included wins over Wigan, Blackpool and Oxford.

The Kent side finished 10th last term, having leapfrogged Ipswich when the standings were adjusted for points per game.

They have been competing at this level for some time now, having claimed the League Two title in 2012/13.

It looked like Pompey were on course for victory in last season’s corresponding fixture on New Year’s Day, but Alex Jakubiak’s late leveller cancelled out a Gareth Evans goal.

TEAM NEWS
Ellis Harrison is set to be out for at least two weeks after going off with a hamstring injury at the weekend.

Gillingham skipper Kyle Dempsey is a doubt with an ankle problem, but Scott Robertson and Matty Willock should both be fit enough to feature.

VIEW FROM THE DRESSING ROOM
Read the thoughts of Kenny Jackett and Lee Brown ahead of the game.

HEAD TO HEAD
Overall
Pompey: 19 wins
Gillingham: 9 wins
9 draws

At Priestfield
Pompey: 7 wins
Gillingham: 7 wins
4 draws

OFFICIALS
Referee: David Rock
Assistants: Paul Kelly and Alasdair Ross
Fourth Official: Charles Breakspear

MATCH COVERAGE
Supporters in the UK can watch the action live – with graphics, commentary and replays – by purchasing a match pass for £10.

Subscribers will, as usual, be able to listen to listen to live commentary from Andy Moon and Guy Whittingham by signing into their account and visiting the match centre from 6pm.

Please note that subscribers based in the UK and Ireland will still need to purchase a match pass in order to watch the game live.

Click here for more information about using iFollow on a matchday and click here for information on downloading the app, so you can access content on your mobile device.

We will have updates throughout the game on Twitter and the match centre. You can also see behind-the-scenes content on our Instagram story.

There will be post-match reaction on the website, iFollow and our official YouTube channel, with highlights to follow on Wednesday.

Local listeners can hear commentary by tuning in to either Express FM or BBC Radio Solent.

BETTING
Pompey are the 10/11 favourites with Sky Bet to secure all three points, while the hosts can be backed at 23/10.

Click here to find a comprehensive list of odds for Saturday's game. Please gamble responsibly.

ALSO IN LEAGUE ONE
Games kick-off at 7pm unless stated

Shrewsbury v Bristol Rovers (6pm)
Accrington v Fleetwood
Blackpool v Charlton
Doncaster v Ipswich
Hull v AFC Wimbledon
Lincoln v Plymouth
Oxford v MK Dons
Sunderland v Crewe
Wigan v Peterborough
Burton v Rochdale
Northampton v Swindon (7.45pm)

LAST MEETING

Match Previews

Match Reports

Gillingham 0 Pompey 2

Marquis and Jacobs on target for Blues in Kent

20 October 2020

John Marquis scores for Pompey at Gillingham — Photo: Nigel Keene

Pompey roared back to winning ways in style with a comfortable – and confident – success against Gillingham at Priestfield.

Both goals arrived in the space of a few first half minutes, with John Marquis stroking home the opener.

And Michael Jacobs then finished off a flowing counter-attack to score his first goal since his summer arrival.

The margin of victory might have been even greater had it not been for the woodwork and some fine Jack Bonham saves.

Kenny Jackett made three changes from the side that were beaten by Doncaster on home soil at the weekend.

Marquis came in for the injured Ellis Harrison, partnering Marcus Harness up front in a 4-4-2 formation.

Meanwhile, Ronan Curtis and Ben Close dropped to the bench to make way for Jacobs and Ryan Williams.

With Pompey one striker light, third year scholar Alfie Stanley was handed a place among the substitutes.

Both sides looked to get forward in the opening stages – perhaps inspired by the artificial crowd noise being pumped out over the public address system.

Gillingham had a couple of dangerous free-kicks, with Tom O’Connor sending one past the post and Jacob Mellis firing the other into the arms of Craig MacGillivray.

But the hosts were left stunned by a couple of impressive goals in quick succession from their clinical opponents.

The first saw Williams send a neat back-heel into the path of MARQUIS, who ran along the edge of the box before passing the ball neatly into the net.

And the advantage was soon doubled, courtesy of a lightning quick breakaway from the visitors that caught the Gills flat-footed.

Marquis held the ball up well before laying it off for Harness, who immediately played a perfect cross-field pass.

JACOBS was the recipient and he raced through on goal, holding off a challenge before firing home to open his Blues account.

Gillingham tried to hit back and Jordan Graham’s free-kick from the left was nodded narrowly over by Vadaine Oliver.

Graham then had a chance of his own, but could not quite keep his effort down after doing well to find space in the box.

But Pompey almost found a third goal just before the break, with Tom Naylor stooping to meet Williams’ cross and glancing a header against the post.

Half Time: Gillingham 0 Pompey 2

And the visitors went close again soon after the restart, when Jacobs cut inside from the left and drew a save from Bonham with his angled drive.

The ball then ran kindly for Williams, only for Declan Drysdale to dive in front of the Australian’s strike and divert it behind.

Callum Johnson and Harness soon combined well down the right, with the latter’s cut-back fired over by Jacobs.

Gillingham needed an inspiration and brought on John Akinde, who had a goalless spell at Fratton Park in 2013.

And they tried to take advantage of a cheap turnover on 58 minutes, with O’Connor’s shot deflected behind by Naylor.

There was another hairy moment a few minutes later, with Lee Brown trying to nod the ball back to MacGillivray and instead sending it inches past his own post.

But the Blues had a great opportunity to wrap things up when Williams lifted a fine delivery into the centre, where Marquis rose and headed off target.

Harness then raced onto a long ball over the head of Christian Maghoma and took a brilliant touch to send him through on goal, only for Bonham to make a key save with his feet.

Jackett freshened things up with a double substitution on 74 minutes, as Close and Curtis replaced Andy Cannon and Harness.

And Curtis immediately showcased some tricky footwork to get into the box, where a spot of pinball ensued before the visitors conceded a foul as they tried to force the ball into the net.

Gillingham came close to setting up a nervy finale, but MacGillivray saved Josh Eccles’ firmly-struk effort and Johnson mopped up the danger.

And Pompey also dealt with some dangerous deliveries into the box to see out the final few moments and seal all three points.

Gillingham (4-2-3-1): Bonham; Jackson (c), Maghoma, Drysdale, Ogilvie; Eccles, O’Connor; Samuel (Akinde 55), Mellis, Graham; Oliver (MacDonald 85)
Booked: Graham
Subs not used: Walsh, Tucker, McKenzie, Robertson, Coyle

Pompey (4-4-2): MacGillivray; Johnson, Whatmough, Raggett, Brown; Williams, Naylor (c), Cannon (Close 74), Jacobs (Pring 90+2); Harness (Curtis 74), Marquis
Goals: Marquis 14, Jacobs 17
Booked: Johnson, Marquis
Subs not used: Bass, Nicolaisen, Morris, Stanley

Referee: David Rock