After a second consecutive 2-1 loss, Swindon need to turn their season around quickly, and they have the opportunity to do so against Gillingham.
Mark Bonner’s side started the season in great fashion but their form has dipped, with this month potentially being a winless one.
The Gills sit in 11th place and have dropped out of the play-offs due to the grim month of October, where they’ve played five games and lost every match, with defeats coming against Grimsby, Crewe, Accrington, Bradford and most recently, Newport.
The appointment of the former Cambridge boss was brought in over the summer to improve on last season’s 12th place finish and with signings of the likes of Bradley Dack, Jacob Wakeling and Armani Little, they could do just that.
But what can Town expect on Saturday?
Gillingham’s setup
A 4-2-3-1 is the go-to formation for Bonner and it suits them perfectly. The Gills love to play out wide, especially down the right, with Remeao Hutton and Jack Nolan providing the most creativity and chances in their team. They have a very fast and creative front four which allows them to be at their most dangerous on the counter.
Looking onto their weaknesses, defending set pieces and aerial duels are must-improve parts of their game. Two of their last three goals conceded have been from set pieces and there is little defensive awareness and poor marking from their side in those situations.
They also struggle with defending counter attacks as their full-backs push so high up, which leaves them low in numbers with players back and if they a fast frontline hits them on the break, it normally means trouble.
In the dugout
Bonner is the man in charge at Gillingham, who is known for promotion with Cambridge United in the COVID-affected 2020/2021 season as they came runners-up with Hollywood hero Paul Mullin crowned as the golden boot winner with 31 goals.
His spell at the Abbey Stadium came to an end in November 2023 as he was sacked with Cambridge sat four points above the relegation zone in 18th place, just two months after he signed a ‘long term’ deal with the club.
In his new role in Kent, he had a great start, as he won the manager of the month award for August and lost just the once in League Two the following month but can’t get things to click in October with five straight defeats.
Key players
As mentioned earlier, the duo of Hutton and Nolan is a real strong point as they have real chemistry despite only playing together for a few months, but they also have strength in other positions too. Jayden Clarke is a winger who adds pace and goals to their attack having scored four goals in 13 games and is their top goalscorer.
Versatile midfielder Robbie McKenzie is a key outlet for Saturday’s visitors, and is the more defensive player in the pivot, but he’s been absent for most of this month after coming off at half-time against Crewe.
Bradley Dack is another standout name as he bolsters experience in the Championship and is one of the best players in League Two but his career has been hugely hit by injury and that same issue has affected him on an emotional return to Gillingham as he is sidelined until November despite only joining the club in the summer.
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