Two early strugglers in League One meet in the second round of the EFL Cup on Tuesday evening, as Gillingham host Cheltenham Town at the Priestfield Stadium.

Both sides knocked out League Two opponents in the first round and will view this tie as a strong opportunity of earning a place in the third round.

Match preview

Gillingham head into Tuesday's match in lifted spirits after earning their first victory of the season at home to Morecambe by a 2-1 scoreline in their last League One encounter.

That weekend result has lifted the hosts in 15th position, after a poor start of two draws and a defeat in their previous three league matches.

In between those results, Gillingham visited League Two side Crawley Town in the first round of the EFL Cup. Penalties were required after a 2-2 draw in regular time, which included a meant-to-be 95th-minute winner for the visitors, only to be pegged back in the 97th minute.

Manager Steve Evans will be hoping a small cup run at the beginning of the campaign can be a catalyst for an improved run of form in the league as well.

The home side did in fact manage to reach the third round of the EFL Cup last season after knocking out Championship side Coventry City and then-League Two side Southend United, before falling to Championship opponents in the form of Stoke City.

Like their hosts, Cheltenham have endured a mixed start to the new season in League One.

After winning the League Two title and achieving promotion to League One as a result, The Robins have won one match, drawn one and lost the other two.

One of these defeats arrived on Saturday at the hands of Fleetwood Town, losing to a 90th-minute goal in a 3-2 scoreline away at the Highbury Stadium.

Manager Michael Duff will remain positive though, as bumps were to be expected in the higher division and a current place of 18th is certainly not the end of the world.

Progression to the third round in the EFL Cup will be viewed as a potential lift in order to put a run of form together in the league as well, particularly after falling at this hurdle last season in a 3-1 defeat to Millwall.

Earlier this month, Cheltenham progressed to this second round tie thanks to a 2-0 win away to League Two side Bristol Rovers thanks to goals from Alfie May and Kyle Vassell.

Team News

Manager Steve Evans has a few injury doubts to deal with in his Gillingham squad ahead of Tuesday's tie.

Daniel Phillips, Alex MacDonald and John Akinde have been struggling with injuries as of late, and missed the league match on Saturday.

After a busy start to the season with matches being played either every three or four days, Evans will likely make a few changes to his lineup from the weekend win over Morecambe.

Meanwhile, Cheltenham manager Michael Duff has just the one injury concern to consider ahead of the trip on Tuesday.

Forward Kyle Vassell failed a fitness test ahead of Saturday's loss to Fleetwood so his availability remains in question for this match too.

Gillingham possible starting lineup:
Chapman; Lintott, Maghoma, Ehmer, Akehurst; Adshead, Bennett, O'Keefe; Lee; Carayol, Sithole

Cheltenham Town possible starting lineup:
Flinders; Horton, Tozer, Boyle; Long, Perry, Wright, Chapman, Freestone; May, Lloyd

We say: Gillingham 1-0 Cheltenham Town

We say Gillingham will just edge this encounter between two similarly matched struggling sides. However, Gillingham's first win at the weekend will give them a much-needed boost, whilst it remains to be seen how Cheltenham pick themselves up from a late defeat on Saturday.