PREVIEW: Argyle vs Gillingham
Ryan Lowe’s Greens will look to begin 2021 with a bang when Steve Evans’ Gillingham visit Home Park on Saturday afternoon.
The Pilgrims looked to be on their way to a second home win in succession in midweek, with Panutche Camara’s first league goal sending Argyle into the lead against Oxford United on Tuesday evening. However, a second-half fightback saw the U’s leave the Theatre of Greens with all three points, despite a late Luke Jephcott penalty.
The Gills are also arriving at the Theatre of Greens off the back of a defeat, having fallen 3-1 to Northampton Town at the PTS Academy Stadium last time out. With his team two goals down on 35 minutes, Kyle Dempsey netted the Gills’ goal on the stroke of half-time, before Alan Sheehan secured the points for the Cobblers two minutes after the restart.
The defeat is the Priestfield side’s third in four fixtures, having also lost out to Accrington Stanley (2-0), and Doncaster Rovers (2-1) in recent weeks. The Greens will not be able to take their Kent opponents lightly, though, as those three defeats were punctuated by a spectacular 4-1 win on the road at Rochdale, with physical striker John Akinde netting twice.
GIllingham lie four places and three points above Argyle before kick-off, in 13th place, on 26 points. The Gills will be without joint top-goalscorer Dominic Samuel, who is missing through injury, while fellow leading marksman Jordan Graham is also a doubt with a hamstring strain. Henry Woods will also be unavailable after undergoing minor surgery, but six-goal Vadaine Oliver is back in the squad.
ARGYLE AT HOME TO GILLINGHAM IN THE EFL
The record: P 35 W 22 D 9 L 4 F 68 A 30
The first time: Division Three, 25 September, 1920. Argyle 3 Gillingham 1
Robert Jack’s Argyle recorded only their second win in the Football League by beating Gillingham 3-1. Our goals were scored by the manager’s son, David Jack, and Harry Raymond (2).
The last time: Sky Bet League One, 23 October, 2018. Argyle 3 Gillingham 1
In their fifteenth match of the 17/18 season, Derek Adams’ Greens recorded only their second win of the campaign by beating the Gills 3-1.
A first half brace from Freddie Ladapo, together with a strike from Ruben Lameiras on 73 minutes, saw Argyle 3-0 up. Luke O’Neill pulled one back for the Kent club on 76 minutes.
Biggest win: Division Three, 20 September, 1980. Argyle 4 Gillingham 1
A brace from Dave Kemp, together with further goals from Kevin Hodges and Brian Bason, gave Bobby Saxton’s Pilgrims their second successive 4-1 home win in the Football League.
Most goals in a single game: Six, in Argyle’s 4-2 win over the Gills on 1 December, 1951 in Division 3 South. Peter Rattray scored a brace for Jimmy Rae’s Greens. Our other goals came from Gordon Astall and Neil Dougall.
Saturday's fixture is behind closed doors, and we remind supporters not to congregate in the vicinity of Home Park on match-day. However, the game is available to stream worldwide on iFollow Argyle for £10. Click here to purchase your pass.