Preview: Gillingham vs Walsall - prediction, team news, lineups

Gillingham and Walsall square off at the Priestfield Stadium on Saturday afternoon looking to build on unbeaten starts to the new League Two campaign.

At a time when the home side earned a share of the spoils at Accrington Stanley, Walsall secured a morale-boosting win over Swindon Town.

Match preview

Regardless of the mass changes that have been made at Walsall, Mat Sadler will accept that the club may need time to shake off the disappointment of missing out on promotion in 2024-25.

Walsall barely laid a glove on AFC Wimbledon in the playoff final, but Sadler will take nothing but positives from overcoming Swindon Town with 10 men last weekend.

Despite holding a 1-0 lead when Brandon Comley was sent off in the 21st minute, Sadler will be encouraged by his side remaining competitive and ultimately scoring a 91st-minute winner through Connor Barrett.

In a game where first-choice striker Jonny Stuttle was withdrawn early, Walsall earned three points that they may have gifted to the other team during last season's run-in.

A trip to Gillingham represents a stiff test at this stage of the campaign, yet Walsall are unbeaten in their last nine matches against this opponent.

However, Gareth Ainsworth remains unbeaten in 10 competitive games as Gillingham head coach after joining towards the back end of last season.

Three wins and seven draws have been posted during that period, the latest stalemate coming at Accrington Stanley.

Gillingham had trailed to a 67th-minute strike before an own goal from Devon Matthews ensured that they started 2025-26 with a point.

With a foundation having been laid, the aim now will be to build momentum, Gillingham having gone unbeaten in their last seven games at the Priestfield Stadium and conceded just the two goals.

Gillingham League Two form:

Walsall League Two form:

Team News

Ainsworth may be prepared to stick with the Gillingham XI that started last weekend, but there is scope for changes in attack.

Nelson Khumbeni and Josh Andrews are in contention to replace Jonny Williams and Bradley Dack.

Meanwhile, Sadler could decide to replace the suspended Comley with recent signing Lewis Warrington, who was introduced as a 23rd-minute substitute against Swindon.

The remainder of the starting lineup could remain the same with the team having been leading before Comley's dismissal.

Gillingham possible starting lineup:

Morris; Hutton, Masterson, Ogie, Clark; McKenzie, Little; Dack, Williams, Gbode; Nevitt

Walsall possible starting lineup:

Roberts; Browne, Flint, Weir; Barrett, Jellis, Warrington, Lakin, Hancock; Pressley, Stuttle

We say: Gillingham 1-1 Walsall

Even with Walsall having showcased their credentials last week, we still feel that this will be a hard-fought contest. Gillingham are more settled than last year and that could lead to them doing enough to earn a point from one of the promotion contenders.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.