MATCH PREVIEW: Swindon v Gillingham

Swindon Town are back in action this weekend after a two week break against a resurgent Gillingham side. Total Sport’s Joe Acklam preview the League Two clash.

Swindon got back on form in a big way two weeks ago when they beat Grimsby Town 5-0, but a pair of postponed matches against Walsall and Stevenage has meant they have had to wait two weeks to give a follow-up performance.

Despite there being a lengthy gap between their last two matches, Gaving Gunning is confident that Swindon will be able to recreate their Grimsby performance against the Gills.

He said: “We are very methodical in our approach to the game, there is no stone left unturned and the approach is always geared towards who we are playing and how we are going to implement our style on them and how we are going to dominate all assets of the game.

“We will definitely recreate the performance against Grimsby or there will be changes in the first half.

“It is simple, if the boys aren’t performing then they will come off the pitch, we have a fantastic bench and that will be it.

“You have a fantastic squad and you might as well use it, if people aren’t performing and they aren’t delivering the message then the message will be for people on the bench to come on and deliver it.

“There is no pressure on me, pressure is for tyres and I am only going out there to deliver a message to the guys.

“As I have said before, I want them to be positive, be pragmatic, but also when they have to be, be ruthless and produce results.”

Swindon face a Gillingham side who have finally hit some form, two straight wins and a raft of new signings sees them a win away from being out of the drop zone, but Gunning was not unduly concerned at playing Neil Harris’ reinvigorated team.

He said: “It happens when you get a few new players in you always get that initial kick, but then it kind of stagnates and the realism of where you are actually at will come back.

“They have signed some good players for the level, but they are where they are for a reason and we will be looking to punish them at the weekend.

“I watched their games back and they got two positive results and signed two quality strikers for the level and [George] Lapslie.

“They have done some good business, I know they have had a massive cash injection with the new owners, but we are looking to be positive.

“They still have their weaknesses and we are going to try and punish them and by ten to five on Saturday I hope we will have three points.”

Gillingham have largely struggled since being relegated to the fourth tier last term and find themselves in the relegation zone, despite having won their last two.

It ended all square at Priestfield earlier this season as Swindon were frustrated by 10-man Gillingham.

However, out of the 100 league matches played between the two clubs, Swindon just about have the upper hand historically in this match-up with 55 wins to 53.

The last time they got the better of the Kent club was back in 2017 when Rohan Ince, Jonathan Obika, and Raphael Rossi-Branco got the goals in a 3-1 win at the County Ground.