[ 18 Jan 25 ] GILLS v Doncaster Rovers Match Thread

[Garawa]

- The Gills have an impressively good record against Doncaster, winning 37 of the 75 meetings and losing just 17 (21 were drawn). However, Doncaster are unbeaten in 3 matches against the Gills, winning of them including this season's reverse fixture.
- Doncaster's last win at Priestfield was a 3-1 victory in December 2018. Since then, they are winless in 6 visits in all competitions losing 4 of them. Their last 4 trips to Medway have seen a brace of 2-2 draws sandwiching 2 0-1 defeats.
- The first 20 league and cup games for Doncaster this season produced 12 wins and 5 defeats. The 14 games played since have seen just 3 wins and 4 defeats with all 4 losses (3 in the league) coming in their previous 8 league and cup matches.
- Doncaster have won 2 of their last 8 home league matches but these have come in their 3 most recent games played. Away from home in League 2, they have won 4 of the last 8 and have lost just 2 of the last 9 but these have also come in the 3 most recent games played.
- Doncaster's 355 attempts at goal is the most in the division and is 116 more than the Gills. As well as the most shots off target, Rovers have the joint highest number on target (118) but convert just 29.7% of them, fewer than the Gills whose 70 is the fewest on target in League 2.
- As well as the joint highest number of shots on target and the most off target, Doncaster have also won the most number of corners (150). They have won 18 corners in their last 4 games but the Gills have managed 17 in their previous 2.
- Doncaster have taken 19 leads in League 2 with 11 coming away from home, the most in League 2. However, since 3 first half leads away at Fleetwood, they managed 1 in the 3 since and each lead lasted for 28.2 minutes on average, the second shortest duration in the division.

[Sat 18th Jan 2025] EFL Sky Bet League 2: Gillingham FC v Doncaster Rovers
Opposition Manager: Grant McCann. Matchday Team: Teddy Sharman-Lowe, James Maxwell, Jay McGrath, Joseph Olowu, [c] Jamie Sterry, Joe Sbarra (Harry Clifton), Owen Bailey, Charlie Crew (George Broadbent), Rob Street (Ethan Ennis), Luke Molyneux (Tom Anderson), Billy Sharp (Joe Ironside)
Opposition League Position: Sky Bet League 2 (7th)
Referee: Lee Swabey
Attendance: 5,814 (327)

(12:31) Kick Off [ 3 - 4 - 1 - 2 ]
(12.33) The ball bounces around the Doncaster box. It comes off Coleman and deflects just the wrong side of the post however a corner is given.
(12.34) Nolan's corner hits the inside of the post and it bounces into the 6 yard box but the ref stops play for a foul.
(12.37) A Rovers free kick on the edge of the D goes under the wall and at straight to Morris.
(12.41) A Nolan free kick finds the head of Ehmer and his effort is saved at point blank range.
(12.49) A Nolan free kick causes mayhem with several blocked shots, one seemingly with an arm and an another by a trailing Gills foot after a fierce drive was heading into an unguarded part of the goal.
(12.51) The Gills attack again. This time, the cross shot deflects just wide off of Nevitt's foot and just wide of the goal.
(13.04) GOAL! Gillingham 0-1 Doncaster Rovers: Molyneux The Gills defence gets caught out and Molyneux lifts it over Morris into the goal.
(13.13) Just like the first goal, Rovers beat the defence with just Morris to lift the ball over. 2 defenders get back to cover on the line but Sharp lifts it over the bar!
(13.16) The referee adds 3 minutes to the half.
(13.19) Half time 0-1

(13.34) The second half kicks off.
(13.36) Doncaster get stretched and, with the keeper beaten, Agbinone lifts his shot high over bar.
(13.55) Agbinone finds a gap and gets the shot on target but the keeper gathers.
(14.01) Ehmer puts his body on the line to block a likely 2nd.
(14.19) There will 6 minutes added to the match.
(14.25) FULL TIME 0-1

Gills' League Position After Game: 16th
Match Report: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/cq8kv7yq5nkt
Match highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krVOo033ixU