Eleven goals and sixteen years on
Gillingham return to Accrington seeking to build on their Rotherham revival against opponents still unbeaten at home – Gills Journal no. 71
Originally published in Gills Journal by David Tickner.
Before the game, then-Gillingham manager Andy Hessenthaler had warned that Accrington were ‘unbelievable at home’. Yet when Mark Bentley lashed a left-footed shot into the roof of the net for his second goal to put Gills 2-1 ahead in front of their travelling supporters, it appeared Hessenthaler’s side were on course to end a run of 27 league games without an away victory.
But the game was only half an hour old and there was plenty more action yet to unfold. Accrington recovered to take a 3-2 lead into half time. Although Cody McDonald restored parity ten minutes after the interval, Gillingham’s defence subsequently disintegrated. Adebayo Akinfenwa’s 79th-minute penalty proved mere consolation as Stanley ran out remarkable 7-4 winners in what was League Two’s highest-scoring encounter of the 2010/11 season. After ten games, Accrington were in the play-off positions and Gillingham languished in 18th.
Gillingham did eventually win away in the league the following month beating Oxford United with another McDonald goal. He scored 25 that season as Gills recovered but missed the play-offs on goal difference.
Accrington, under long-serving John Coleman in his first spell at the club, made those play-offs but lost to Stevenage in the semi-finals. Coleman, of course, had a brief spell in charge at Priestfield during 2025 winning just two of his 14 games in charge before Ainsworth arrived.
16 years to the month after that 2010 eleven-goal encounter, Gillingham visit the Crown Ground fourth in League Two with 16 points from ten games whilst Accrington are 15th with 11 points.
Gillingham travel on the back of a lethal second half that saw them win 4-1 at Rotherham last Saturday. It was a marked contrast to the game’s first half and followed the disappointments of a goalless draw at home to Newport and the resounding 3-0 derailment at York. Saturday’s visit to Accrington should provide another indication of whether a strengthening squad and Gillingham’s improved attacking combinations can deliver the consistency required of genuine promotion challengers.
Accrington Stanley, who are they?
This won’t be an easy assignment for the Gills. Stanley’s position in the bottom half of the table disguises an encouraging recent run. Unbeaten in four league fixtures, they are yet to lose at home in the league although Rotherham could make the same claim before Gillingham visited last Saturday.
Since losing 2-1 at Barnet on 12 September, they have conceded just once – in a draw at Swindon – in four league matches and have kept three clean sheets. They drew 0-0 at Oldham last weekend and in their most recent home game, beat Cheltenham, who have had a good start to the season, 2-0 with substitute Charlie Warren (shirt no. 30), on loan from Bolton, scoring twice in the closing stages.
Warren’s contribution clearly impressed Stanley manager John Doolan, although the 22-year-old forward encountered a rather different challenge when starting against Oldham. Doolan acknowledged that Warren initially struggled with the physical demands of the contest before becoming more influential as he found pockets of space to receive the ball and turn.
Despite injuries disrupting his plans, Doolan believes his squad is becoming more tactically adaptable, with players increasingly comfortable switching positions and formations when circumstances demand.
The present incarnation of Accrington Stanley - formed in 1968 after the demise of its predecessor - returned to the Football League under Coleman in 2006. They eventually won League Two in 2018 in his second spell and spent five seasons in League One before relegation in 2023.
Current manager Doolan – previously a player at the club - succeeded Coleman in March 2024. Stanley’s recent league finishes – 21st in 2024/25 and 16th last season - indicate the challenges they have faced in mounting another promotion bid.
Recent encounters
Last season’s corresponding fixture finished 1-1 on the opening day. Tyler Walton (current shirt no. 23) put the home side ahead in the 66th minute before Armani Little equalised directly from a corner in the 79thminute.
In the return on Easter Monday, Gills ran out 2-0 winners thanks to an Andy Smith header – his first and only goal for the club to date – and a fine curling shot from Garath McCleary as Accrington finished with nine players after Walton and David Abimbola were sent off in the closing stages.
Historically, it’s a fixture in which Gillingham have had the upper hand. Across all 22 competitive fixtures with the present-day Stanley, Gillingham’s record is 11 wins, six draws and five defeats. More recently, in the last six meetings between the two sides in League Two, Gills have won three, drawn two and lost just once.
Team news
Tuesday’s narrow EFL Trophy over Brighton Under 21s provided another four goals, but perhaps more importantly gave valuable playing time to Ethan Coleman, Bradley Dack, Tom Eaves, Garath McCleary and Conor McManus, increasing Ainsworth’s options ahead of Saturday’s fixture.
Ainsworth has also reported that Liam Gordon is making encouraging progress in his rehabilitation and could return to training on grass next week, although Kadeem Harris and Zech Obiero remain longer-term absentees. Eaves, meanwhile, still needs playing time to regain full match sharpness, despite scoring twice since his return.
The improving fitness of several players is beginning to present Ainsworth with welcome selection dilemmas. The Gills manager acknowledged that it is difficult to change a winning formation, while recognising that particular opponents sometimes demand different selections. His immediate challenge is to build on the attacking success at Rotherham without disturbing the balance that produced it.
Verdict
Saturday therefore presents an intriguing contrast. Ronan Hale’s two goals at Rotherham, Lamin Sillah’s contribution and Eaves scoring his first goal since returning to the club all suggest Gillingham are moving forward with a more productive set of attacking options. At the same time, Accrington appear to be developing greater defensive resilience and tactical flexibility.
Having ended Rotherham’s unbeaten home record last weekend, Gills will be seeking to repeat the feat at the Crown Ground and provide further evidence that they possess the consistency required of genuine promotion challengers.
Prediction: Accrington Stanley 0-2 Gillingham
David Tickner writes regularly about Gillingham Football Club on Substack. You can read, follow or subscribe for free at Gills Journal | David Tickner | Substack
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