Match preview: Gillingham v Wednesday

18 March 2022

MATCH DETAILS

Gillingham v Sheffield Wednesday
Saturday 19 March
3:00pm
Sky Bet League One
Priestfield Stadium

The Owls head to Gillingham on Saturday in Sky Bet League One.

It’s extremely tight at the top end of the division with a congested play-off picture unfolding.

Wednesday go into the round of fixtures just a point outside of the play-off positions, with a game in hand over sixth-placed Sunderland.

There is plenty on the line for both sides on Saturday at Priestfield.

While the Owls will be looking to return to winning ways after being held by Accrington at home in midweek, the Gills need the points for their bid to avoid relegation.

Neil Harris’ side sit in the drop zone, currently 21st in the division.

Results have improved under Harris and as things stand, it’s only goal difference keeping Gillingham in the bottom four.

The club have two wins from their last four outings, though lost away at Charlton last time out.

Our last meeting with Gillingham finished 1-1 at Hillsborough, with former Owl Vadaine Oliver opening the scoring before Florian Kamberi equalised 15 minutes from time.

TEAM NEWS

Wednesday: Harlee Dean, Josh Windass and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing have trained and a decision will be made on whether the trio will be involved in the squad on Saturday.

Lewis Gibson and Liam Palmer are doubts after picking up knocks.

Ciaran Brennan is also unlikely to feature due to an injury the defender sustained in the Under-23s’ 1-0 win over Sheffield United earlier in the week.

Gillingham: Defender Robbie McKenzie limped off injured last time out in the 1-0 defeat at Charlton.

The 23-year-old has been a mainstay in the Gills team this season with 40 appearances in all competitions but is now a doubt after picking up an injury just before the hour mark at The Valley.

Young defender Harvey Lintott stepped in to fill the void in midweek and the 19-year-old could feature against the Owls.

Ryan Jackson, Mustapha Carayol, Ben Reeves and goalkeeper Aaron Chapman are all out with injury.

With injuries throughout the squad, manager Neil Harris said: “If the youngsters have to step in and play, then so be it. Sometimes in adversity you go to the youngsters and Josh Chambers came on and did really well at the weekend for 20 minutes. Harvey came on and did okay.”

PRE-MATCH MEDIA

Manager – Darren Moore

The gaffer's pre-match media took place earlier today as we build up to #GILSHW this weekend
— Sheffield Wednesday (@swfc) March 17, 2022

Dominic Iorfa

Competition for places and raising the standards 👊#swfc https://t.co/IQWwDD86K9 pic.twitter.com/C5bzvsX2gR
— Sheffield Wednesday (@swfc) March 18, 2022

OFFICIALS

Referee – Gavin Ward
Assistant referee – Akil Howson
Assistant referee – Matthew McGrath
Fourth official – Chris Pollard

iFOLLOW

Live match commentary will be provided by iFollow in association with BBC Radio Sheffield, while the game will be streamed live overseas.

Audio match passes are available HERE.

SOCIAL MEDIA

The hashtag for our content relative to Saturday’s game is #GILSHW

Our official Twitter account @swfc will provide a blow-by-blow text update of the game as well as all key match information, including team news at 2.00pm.

Our official Instagram @swfcofficial will also keep you up to date on the latest events, with content uploaded to the story throughout the matchday.

The key news will also be uploaded to our Facebook page HERE.

FORM GUIDE

Owls: WWLWD
Gillingham: DWLWL

PREVIOUS MEETINGS

Fans are reminded of their conduct during all home and away fixtures HERE.

Match Reports

Report: Gillingham 0-0 Wednesday

19 March 2022

Wednesday posted another point in pursuit of the play-offs, drawing 0-0 with Gillingham at Priestfield Stadium.

The Owls edged proceedings overall in terms of ball retention but chances at both ends came at a premium.

More came the visitors’ way late on as Gillingham asked more of the earlier questions. Stuart O’Keefe crossed nicely for Charlie Kelman but the latter’s header went wide and ex-Owl Vadaine Oliver miscued from close range after Bailey Peacock-Farrell parried a whistling Kelman hit.

The Owls struggled to breach a resolute Gills backline and fed on scraps throughout a first half lacking in real talking points.

Just 10 seconds into the second period, though, Wednesday survived a scare when Kelman sprung free down the middle but Peacock-Farrell was alert to the situation and raced off his line to deal with the danger.

The Owls responded with Lee Gregory volleying a Barry Bannan feed over the bar before the duo combined again moments later, alas the finish was the same.

Darren Moore made a double change of the hour, introducing Saido Berahino and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing as Wednesday pressed for a winner.

And it almost came on 72 minutes when Bannan threaded a sidefoot shot through the eye of a needle and Aaron Chapman scampered across his line to palm wide in the nick of time.

Bannan then unleashed a curling shot on the angle that brushed the top of the net and Gregory went close on the angle after good work from Berahino.

The Gills dropped deeper and deeper to preserve a point that could have been three when Oliver, against the run of play, burst in on goal right at the last only to prod tamely past the post.

Wednesday: Peacock-Farrell, Hunt (Mendez-Laing 61), Storey, Hutchinson, Dunkley, Johnson, Luongo, Byers (Dean 79), Bannan, Paterson (Berahino 61), Gregory

Match Reports

Ticket News

Gillingham ticket update

18 March 2022

The Owls head to Gillingham on Saturday in Sky Bet League One and tickets for the fixture will go off sale today at 2.00pm.

We have an allocation of 3,636 for the trip to Priestfield and around 300 remain available for Wednesdayites.

After 2.00pm today, there will be no further tickets sales for this fixture. Tickets will not be available on the day of the game at Gillingham.

Duplicates and collections will be available from the away turnstiles at the end of Priestfield Road.