- Salford City have won their last three home League Two matches, including a 2-1 success over Notts County four days ago.
- Gillingham have won only five of their last 20 away League Two games, drawing six and losing nine.
- The last five head-to-head results slightly favour Gillingham, with three wins, one draw and one defeat.
Salford strong at home
Karl Robinson’s possession-based, flexible tactics have made Salford City a potent force on their own patch since he took charge in January 2024. The Ammies have won 13 of their 21 home games in League Two, drawing three and losing five, and have failed to win their last two against Gillingham.
That could be an omen for Gillingham, but it also means Salford are chasing a playoff spot right now. 6th-placed Salford have 73 points from 42 matches, while Gillingham sit 17th with 49 points from 41 games.
Robinson has kept his side in the hunt for the top seven by being tactically flexible and getting his players to control the tempo of games with possession-based football that sees them create overloads out wide and play in a progressive way.
Gills have a direct gameplan
Gareth Ainsworth has installed a more direct and high-intensity style on Gillingham since taking charge in March 2025, and his side have made a virtue out of their physicality, high pressing game and ability to transition quickly from defence to attack. This is a clash of styles on Saturday, and it will be interesting to see if Salford can break down the Gills’ press while Gillingham will be looking to get at Salford’s defence when they win the ball in their own half.
Gillingham are inconsistent, however, and have won only one, drawn one and lost three of their last five League Two fixtures. They drew 2-2 away at Walsall four days ago, but haven’t won either of their last two away matches, suggesting there is still work for Ainsworth to do at Gillingham.
Salford to edge it
The hosts have averaged 1.52 goals per game at home in League Two this season and conceded an average of 1.14 goals, which is solid for the league and points to an attacking return on Saturday. I’m backing Salford to break down Gillingham’s press and take control of the match at some stage in the second half, eventually grinding out a much-needed home victory in the pursuit of a playoff place.
Bradley Dack is Gillingham’s top scorer in the fourth tier with seven goals in 36 games, while Ronan Hale has chipped in with two of their last five goals. Salford’s Ryan Graydon leads the way for them with 11 goals in 42 League Two appearances and has two of the Ammies’ last six goals to his name.
There will be goals in this game and I’m taking 4/5 on the over 2.5 goals bet, but backing both teams to score ‘No’ at 9/10 appeals more given Salford’s defensive solidity at home and Gillingham’s woeful away record.
