Name: Gillingham
Manager: Justin Edinburgh
Ground + Capacity: Priestfield – 11,582
Sat Nav Post Code: ME7 4DD
Nearest Train Station: Gillingham
Odds: 16/1
Last Meeting: Gillingham 1-2 Millwall – 08/05/16
Club Website: www.gillinghamfootballclub.com/
IT was eight minutes into stoppage time in the final game of the season.
Millwall’s chances of a fourth-placed finish and a home second leg in the play-off semi-finals had seemingly gone up in smoke, after Gillingham’s 92nd minute equaliser from Aiden O’Brien’s opener.
But then, it all changed.
Lee Gregory was hauled down inside the box and a penalty was given.
The number nine stepped up to take the kick himself, in front of a sun-drenched away end at Priestfield. With a strike of the boot, Gregory scored his 25th goal of the season and won the game for the Lions.
It was a first victory in the Medway for Millwall since 1997 – add to that winning in the final minute, landing a home second leg in the play-offs and defeating your rivals after conceding in stoppage time and it was quite the day.
In contrast, last season’s home game with Gillingham was an afternoon of horrors, as Jordan Archer’s first-half red card helped the visitors on their way to a 3-0 victory at The Den.
Under Justin Edinburgh, the Gills just missed out on a top six spot in 2015-16, despite being firmly entrenched in there for large parts of the campaign.
In 2016-17, they will no doubt be looking to go one better and avoid the play-offs altogether.
In Bradley Dack, they possess one of the best players in League One, whilst the likes of ex-Millwall midfielder Josh Wright and new signing Billy Knott will look to fire the Medway outfit to promotion.
Along with Charlton Athletic and Southend United, Gillingham will provide the Lions with their most local tests of the forthcoming campaign.