[ 7 Sep 24 ] Doncaster Rovers v GILLS Match Thread

[Garawa]

- The Gills lead the wins over Doncaster by 37 victories to 16 and 21 meetings have been drawn. The Gills have won 3 of the last 6 matches between the sides (all 1-0) but did not win either tie last season.
- The Gills lost their last 2 visits to Doncaster following their last win there back in March 2022. 4 consecutive draws away at Doncaster between 2015 and 2019 were followed by 1 win and 3 defeats since them.
- Following 10 league wins in 28 games, Doncaster's run of 10 consecutive wins at the end of last season ended with the 2-2 draw at Priestfield. Crossing over to this season, Doncaster's previous 15 league matches (excluding playoffs) produced 13 wins, 1 draw & 1 defeat.
- Doncaster's draw at Priestfield at the end of last season is their only draw in 20 league and cup games of which 16 were wins. Rovers have won 11 of their last 12 home league and cup games with the other game being a defeat in the playoffs.
- Doncaster have taken 6 leads in their 4 League 2 games, the most in the division. The Gills are yet to fall behind in the league and have been ahead for 184 minutes, also the most in the division.
- Doncaster are 1 of 3 League 2 sides to have scored 5 second half goals who have all scored them in 2 of their 4 games. The Gills have scored 4 - also from 2 of their games. Doncaster are joint top scorers with 9 whilst the Gills have the joint best defence with 1 conceded.

EFL Sky Bet League 2: Doncaster Rovers v Gillingham FC
Opposition Team: Teddy Sharman-Lowe, Brandon Fleming, Jay McGrath, Tom Anderson, Jamie Sterry, Zain Westbrooke (Ben Close), [c] Owen Bailey, Jordan Gibson (Kyle Hurst), Harry Clifton, Luke Molyneux (Joseph Olowu), Billy Sharp (Joe Ironside).
Opposition League Position: Sky Bet League 2 (5th)
Referee: Thomas Parsons
Attendance: 7,546 (637)

(15:00) Kick Off [ 4 - 2 - 3 - 1 ]
(15.19) Gibson in space drills a strong effort wide of goal.
(15.27) Gibson gets into a brilliant position but his effort is equally met by Morris who stayed strong to save with his leg before the Gills defence blocked two further follow-up efforts.
(15.29) GOAL! Doncaster Rovers 1-0 Gillingham: Sharp
(15.34) Morris comes and punches away but with the goal empty, Molyneux hooks the ball goalward from the end of the box and onto the roof of the net.
(15.41) Molyneux come forward and floats a ball perfectly for Sharp in the centre of the box but he heads wide with just Morris to beat.
(15.45) There will be 2 minutes added to the half.
(15.47) Half time 1-0 [47:02]

(16.02) The second half kicks off.
(16.03) Molyneux twists and turns the Gills defence and his shot takes a deflection just over the bar with Morris at full stretch trying to cover it.
(16.07) A hopeful, floated cross from a tight angle by Molyneux glances gently off the face of the crossbar.
(16.12) Doncaster play through the centre of the Gills defence and only have Morris to beat. The shot deflects wide off the 'keeper and comes back in but the contact is more of an air kick. The attacker ends up in the net and Morris gathers to clear quickly.
(16.14) A Gills corner is tipped away under the bar but falls to Hawkins who sees his effort blocked. It rebounds to Ogie who heads onto the roof of the net.
(16.47) The referee adds on 5 additional minutes.
(16.50) Little drives a shot from distance which just clears the crossbar.
(16.53) FULL TIME 1-0 [98:31]

Gills' League Position After Game: 4th
Match Report: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/c1epy0gvzzzt
Match highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4vXwZv1Tqw