Match Preview: Gillingham

12 August 2022

It’s a return to league action at Prenton Park as Micky Mellon’s men look to register their first league win of the season after progressing into the second round of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night.

After coming back from 2-0 down, Rovers pulled the game back against Accrington to draw 2-2 thanks to goals from Josh Hawkes and a 93^rd minute own goal which saw the game be decided by penalties.

A dramatic penalty shootout saw Rovers progress with a 11-12 win on penalties, with Josh Hawkes scoring the decisive spot kick.

As for Gillingham, they also progressed into the second round of the Carabao Cup with two late goals to win away at AFC Wimbledon. It’s the second time already this season that they’ve faced the Dons, after they travelled to London on the first day of the season but fell to a 2-0 defeat.

But with back-to-back wins after picking up their first league win of the season against Rochdale, the side who was relegated from the third tier last season will be keen to build some momentum with a result at Prenton Park.

Team News:

Jordan Turnbull and Joel Mumbongo both got minutes under their belt on Tuesday night and will continue to work on their match fitness ahead of a busy fixture schedule.

Micky Mellon revealed that the squad picked up 'a few knocks' on Tuesday but the conseqence of that is yet to be seen.

Kyle Jameson, Jon Nolan and Elliott Nevitt were all missing from the last matchday squad and will be assessed ahead of the weekend.

Kieron Morris, Tom Davies and Charlie Jolley all remain sidelined.

One to Watch: Scott Kashket

A former Wycombe Wanderers man, Kashket signed for the Gills this summer from relegated side Crewe Alexandra.

Ages 26, Kashket has suffered a fair few relegations but has always been a bright spark in dull season’s, especially in Wycombe’s relegation season from the Championship were they came agonisingly close to pulling off the impossible and avoiding relegation despite being huge underdogs for the entirety of the campaign.

He had a very successful spell during his time with the Chairboys, picking League Two player of the month in December 2016 whilst scoring nine goals in nine games, proving he can be prolific at this level.

Since moving to the Gills in an attempt to recapture that form at this level, he scored in the second game of the season in a 1-0 win over Rochdale and will be hoping to add to that tally on Saturday afternoon.

Manager: Neil Harris

A slightly shock appointment at the time, former Millwall and Cardiff manager Neil Harris took over as first-team manager in January of last season in an attempt to save his side from the drop.

Unfortunately, it was a task too far as the Gills were one of four teams to drop into the fourth tier, but with such a promising manager in charge at the Priestfield Stadium, Gillingham will be full of hope in the early stages of the campaign for a positive season.

Harris has a promotion on his CV after guiding Millwall to the League One play-offs in 2017 and winning under the famous Wembley arch where they beat Bradford City 1-0.

After picking up an early first win of the season against Rochdale and a late win in the Carabao Cup, Harris will be keen to continue the form when his side travel to the Wirral to face Rovers in front of the SWA.

Tickets:

All tickets can be bought online at trfctickets.co.uk and are £3 cheaper when bought online up until kick off.

Match Coverage:

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You can follow the action through our social media channels below, with full text coverage during the fixture, followed by a match report.

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Match reaction from Micky Mellon and a player will follow on our website and YouTube channel.

Match Previews

Match Reports

Tranmere Rovers 3-0 Gillingham

13 August 2022

Tranmere Rovers got their first win of the new season in emphatic style on Saturday afternoon against Gillingham at Prenton Park.

Goals from Elliott Nevitt, Ethan Bristow and Josh Dacres-Cogley earned Tranmere all three points on a red hot day on the Wirral.

It was Rovers who got out of the blocks quickest and hit the woodwork in the opening five minutes. Kane Hemmings attempted and audacious chip from the edge of the box but the ball rebounded back off the bar after Morris was stranded in the Gills’ goal.

On the 17th minute, Tranmere took the lead. Chris Merrie played a perfectly waited pass through to Elliott Nevitt who held off his marker and cooly slotted past Morris and into the far corner.

Just 10 minutes later, Rovers nearly doubled their advantage. Bristow’s low cross went through a series of players before Nevitt’s toe flicked the ball on and inches past the far post.

It was one way traffic at this point and Tranmere came close again to extending their lead. Reece McAlear played a clever one two with Nevitt before trying to pick out Paul Lewis at the back post but he couldn’t quite reach it at the back post.

The visitors started the second half with more intent and were unlucky not to draw level. Jordan Green’s cross from the right went through a sea of bodies before canoning back off the left hand post to let Rovers off.

Midway through the second period, Tranmere gave themselves some much deserved breathing space. Kane Hemmings turned on the edge of the box and played a cute ball through to Bristow who absolutely hammered it home in front of the Kop stand.

Tranmere were in a relentless mood and on the 75th minute, Tranmere’s other wing back got in on the act. A mix up in the Gillingham defence gave Josh Dacres-Cogley and opportunity which he didn’t turn down, cleverly dinking the ball over the onrushing Morris.

Substitute Joel Mumbongo could have had a fourth for Rovers just moments later when his low drive from the edge of the box whistled past the post.

Rovers comfortably seen the game out to register their first three points and clean sheet of the season, setting themselves up nicely for a trip to Hartlepool on Tuesday night.

Tranmere team: Doohan, Josh Dacres-Cogley, Byrne, Turnbull (Hawkes 77’), Jameson, Bristow, Merrie, Lewis (Mumbongo 72’), McAlear, Nevitt (Nolan 87’), Hemmings

Attendance: 5.414