Match Previews

Preview | Accrington Stanley v Gillingham

16th October

Accrington Stanley v Gillingham

Sky Bet League Two

Wham Stadium

Saturday October 17, 2026

Kick-Off, 3pm

Team News:

Zane Albarus, Will Goodwin and Conor McManus could all be back in contention for Saturday’s trip to Accrington Stanley. Bradley Dack will be available for selection too despite going off in Tuesday night’s Jersey Mike’s Trophy game due to a tight groin.

Liam Gordon, Kadeem Harris, Zech Obiero and Eli King all remain out.

Accrington's Seamus Conneely and Alex Henderson are both doubts for Saturday’s game. Farrend Rawson is back in training, while Tom Moore, who has been training all week, is back available for selection.

John Doolan confirmed that there is potential for one or two other players to return, depending on how they train Friday.

Manager Comments:

John Doolan: “It’s Gillingham for us on Saturday. They are going to ask a lot of questions. Gareth Ainsworth has been around the block. He has made some really good signings this summer.

“They have had a good start, and I watched them on Tuesday night with a much-changed team, but they had a good win the week before against Rotherham- 4-1 away. I have known Gareth a long time, so it will be a good challenge for us.”

Gareth Ainsworth: “Accrington are a good outfit. People underestimate them all the time. They work hard, they run, and they have a good manager in John Doolan, who I know well. I am going back home, so I know that the journey can be a bit of a killer as well. We are going to have to get off early, get up there and prepare right.”

Gareth's exclusive with Gills TV can be seen here.

Previous Meetings:

Saturday will be the 26th meeting between the two clubs. Gillingham leads the head-to-head with 13 wins to Accrington’s six. The fixture has also seen six draws.

Our last victory at the Wham Stadium came in January 2024, as the Gills had to come from behind to beat Stanley.

Following a goalless first-half, it took the hosts five minutes after the interval to break the deadlock. Future Gill, Jack Nolan, curled a free-kick into the penalty area, finding Alex Henderson, who managed to angle his header goalward with it going in off the post.

Conor Masterson levelled the scores after 62 minutes. Connor Mahoney sent a high-looping corner deep into the Accrington penalty area. Oli Hawkins headed it back across the six-yard box for Masterson, to send his header into the roof of the net from close range.

With 15 minutes remaining, Macauley Bonne scored what proved to be the winning goal. Mahoney did brilliantly to get past a defender on the right touchline before making his way into the penalty area and eventually directing the ball towards the six-yard box. It found Tom Nichols, who touched it back to Bonne, who thumped a left-footed shot into the bottom right corner from eight yards out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsetpCizr1c

Tickets:

We have been allocated 560 tickets for our trip to the Wham Stadium, with supporters being situated in the Whinney Hill Stand.

Tickets will be available on the day of the game at no extra cost from the away ticket booth, located close to the away turnstiles. Any returned tickets will also be available.

The Wham Stadium is a CASHLESS VENUE.

For ticket prices, stadium information, coach travel and more, click here.

Streaming:

Domestic fans can pay for an audio pass, which are available to purchase for a one-off fee by clicking here.

Overseas fans have access to a video feed for a one-off fee with commentary from BBC Radio Kent.

Click here to buy.

Odds:

Accrington Stanley - 11/8

Draw - 11/5

Gillingham - 7/4

Match Officials:

Referee: Will Finnie