Playoff contenders Swindon Town and Gillingham face off at the County Ground on Tuesday night, with the home side even in with a chance of moving into the top three if other results come their way.

Both sides go into this game in different moods, with Swindon Town unbeaten in their last two games, while Gillingham are looking to get back to winning ways after two straight defeats.

Match preview

Swindon Town go into Tuesday's game with the tailwind of a 2-2 draw with Salford City, where they led 2-1 until stoppage time but could not prevent a late equaliser from the visitors, who played the final minutes with 10 men after Curtis Tilt was sent off.

Had it not been for Salford City's unfortunate goal in the dying seconds of the game, Michael Flynn's side would have been searching for their third successive win on Tuesday, having beaten Newport 2-0 a week earlier.

The hosts have had an up-and-down last month. After two defeats to Notts County and Bradford, they picked up four points out of a possible six in their last two games.

In contrast to the team's inconsistency last month is Swindon Town's home form. They are one of the four teams still unbeaten at home this season, winning five out of a possible six and sitting third in the home table.

The County Ground could be considered a fortress in the early months of the season, as they have now won five in a row and scored two or more goals in each of those encounters, including a 2-2 draw with Crewe Alexandra.

Gillingham, on the other hand, have been on a drought of late, winning just one of their last six League Two matches – their last victory coming against the 10-man MK Dons, which they won 2-1.

Prior to that, there were defeats to Doncaster Rovers and Crewe Alexandra, with the two defeats away to Walsall and at home to Notts County being the most recent failures in the league.

Gillingham's away record is a headache for manager Keith Millen, as they have suffered defeats in their last four away games, conceding two or more goals in each of those encounters and scoring just two goals.

The team's defensive performance is a serious concern for Millen and his coaching staff, as the team has failed to keep a clean sheet in their last eight games, making it hard to expect a positive result. In addition, Gillingham are the team with the fewest goals in the league, with only 13 scored.

Team News

Central defender Tom Brewitt had to be substituted off due to injury in the first few minutes of the second half of the game against Salford City and is a major concern in this game.

Harrison Minturn is most likely his direct replacement and will be able to play in the back three if Brewitt is not back to full fitness on Tuesday.

Other than that, they will be looking to push on in attack with two players who have been crucial for Swindon this season, Jake Young and Daniel Kemp.

Young is the team's leading scorer with nine goals, which ranks him second in the league's scoring list for the 2023-2024 season, while Kemp is nearly as successful with eight goals, including four assists.

Gillingham were free of injury concerns in their last game against Notts County, with captain Max Ehmer returning to the starting XI after missing the game against Walsall.

Left-back Scott Malone scored Gillingham's only goal in a 2-1 home defeat to Notts County and will be eager to put in another solid attacking performance on the left flank.

However, the team's biggest threat comes from striker Macauley Bonne, who has scored three times already this season and is desperate to get back on the scoresheet after his goalless display in the last game.

Swindon Town possible starting lineup:
Mahoney; Godwin-Malife, Minturn, Blake-Tracy, Hutton, Shade; Khan, McEachran, Kemp; Young, Austin

Gillingham possible starting lineup:
Turner; Clark, Masterson, Ehmer, Malone; Coleman, Mahoney, Williams, Clarke, Jefferies; Bonne

We say: Swindon Town 3-1 Gillingham

Swindon have been in captivating home form this season, winning their last five encounters at The County Ground and there is no sign of them stopping any time soon.

Gillingham have struggled to score all season and the trip to Swindon could be too tough a nut to crack with their current form.


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