A matter of perspective

Unbeaten in three yet still without a win, Gillingham face a Rochdale side buoyed by their first victory since returning to the EFL.

Unbeaten in three games or still without a win: it rather depends on your perspective. Following a fortuitous 1-1 draw at Chesterfield on Tuesday, both statements are true, of course. Taken together, they sum up the contradictory start to Gillingham’s post-rebuild season.

David Tickner writes regularly about Gillingham Football Club on Substack. You can read, follow or subscribe for free at Gills Journal | David Tickner | Substack.

The League season is only four games old, so it is too early to form a definitive view. Even so, the next four League fixtures in September need to bring more goals – only two have been scored so far – and at least a couple of wins.

The first opportunity comes this Saturday as The Gills take on newly promoted Rochdale at Spotland Stadium (currently known as the Crown Oil Arena).

Current form

After securing promotion from the National League in dramatic fashion, Rochdale’s return to League Two in 2026/27 has been challenging. Rochdale sit 19th in the table, two places above Gillingham on goal difference. Having lost their first three games: 0-3 at Newport County, 1-2 at home to Crawley Town and 0-1 away at Colchester United; they responded with a convincing 3-0 home win over Shrewsbury Town on Tuesday evening.

The club also exited the League Cup in the first round, losing 2–0 away to Bradford City after progressing past Tranmere Rovers on penalties in the preliminary round. 

Recent history

Relegated to the National League in 2023, Rochdale finished fourth in 2024/25 and qualified for the play-offs, only to lose 4–3 after extra time to Southend United.

Rochdale’s 2025/26 season was historic. The club achieved a record 106 points in the National League, finishing second behind York City. Promotion was almost secured on a dramatic final day. Needing a win against York to secure automatic promotion, Rochdale took a late lead only for York to equalise deep into stoppage time, sending York up and Rochdale into the play-offs.

In the play-offs, Rochdale defeated Scunthorpe United 2-1 in the semi-final and faced Boreham Wood in the final at Wembley. After coming from two goals down to draw 2-2 after extra time, Rochdale triumphed 3-1 on penalties, securing their return to the Football League after three years.

Head coach and approach

Ian Watson was appointed head coach in June 2026 on a three-year contract, joining from South Shields, where he led the club to the National League North Promotion Final in his first full season. His South Shields side appeared committed to pressing high up the pitch, moving quickly in transition and playing attacking football. Having watched them a couple of times towards the end of last season, I was struck by the quality of their passing and attacking play, which was more attractive than much of the fare often served up in League Two.

Summer recruitment and ones to watch

Dajaune Brown, on loan from Derby County, already looks one of Dale’s standout additions - operating centrally, linking play and providing the assist for Jonny Smith’s midweek goal against Shrewsbury. Smith, well‑known to Gills fans after last season’s injury‑plagued loan at Priestfield, joined Rochdale from Wigan Athletic for an undisclosed fee this summer. Another Wigan arrival, holding midfielder Baba Adeeko, also opened his account with the first goal against Shrewsbury.

Nils Ramming has established himself as Rochdale’s first‑choice goalkeeper after arriving from Brighton, following the same development pathway taken by Zane Albarus. That Brighton connection continues with the signing of Charlie Tasker this week, another Seagulls prospect who previously featured alongside Albarus in their Under 21s.

Two further additions are Glenn Middleton, also joining this week from Doncaster Rovers to bring proven League One experience; and Kane Taylor, who arrived on loan from Aston Villa after a promising loan spell at Oldham Athletic last season.

That influx of youth complements a spine built around three established figures. Captain Ethan Ebanks‑Landell continues to provide the defensive authority at centre-back as well as the leadership that guided the club through promotion. Up front, Emmanuel Dieseruvwe remains a pivotal presence, having scored important goals during the dramatic final day and play-off run of 2025/26 that helped to define the club’s recent resurgence. In midfield, Harvey Gilmour, already past the 100‑appearance mark, offers continuity and control.

Experienced forward Devante Rodney, 28, remains a consistent goal threat, twice finishing as the club’s top scorer in 2022/23 and 2024/25 and playing a pivotal role in their promotion push. Alongside him is club legend Ian Henderson, still contributing at 41. Rochdale’s all-time leading scorer ended last season with 169 goals in 523 appearances for the club.

Head-to-head record

The history of the fixture offers encouragement for The Gills, who have won 19 of the 54 games played between the two clubs. There have been 19 draws and Dale have won 16.

Recent meetings

Gillingham also have the upper hand in recent meetings, with five wins and three draws in the last ten. The most recent fixture, in February 2023, ended in a 2–0 win at Spotland through goals from Oli Hawkins and George Lapslie, boosting Gills’ survival prospects during Rochdale’s relegation season. Dale were bottom at the time and remained there.

Gillingham had also won 4–1 at Spotland in League One in December 2020 during Covid through goals from Robbie McKenzie, John Akinde (two) and Connor Ogilvie.

Just a month later, with matches still behind closed doors, Akinde rescued a point for The Gills in the reverse fixture with a stoppage-time volley. His equaliser made it 2–2 after Vadaine Oliver had put Gillingham ahead shortly before half-time.

In the 2008/09 League Two play-offs, fifth-placed Gillingham faced sixth-placed Rochdale in the semi-finals. After a 0–0 draw at Spotland, Gillingham won 2–1 in the second leg in front of 9,585 at Priestfield Stadium, with Simeon Jackson scoring twice. Gillingham went on to win the play-off final and secure promotion, while Rochdale’s wait for promotion continued until the following season.

Verdict

Saturday’s game looks finely balanced. Rochdale will have gained confidence from their convincing midweek victory over Shrewsbury, while Gillingham arrive unbeaten in three but still searching for the attacking fluency required to turn draws into wins.

The Gills’ recent record in this fixture offers encouragement, but their performance at Chesterfield underlined the work still to be done. Unless they can play with greater purpose and create more sustained pressure, another tight game appears likely.

Prediction: Rochdale 1–1 Gillingham