Match Previews

Preview | Shrewsbury Town v Gillingham

30th October

Shrewsbury Town v Gillingham

Sky Bet League Two

The Croud Meadow

Saturday October 31, 2026

Kick-Off, 3pm

Team News:

Gareth Ainsworth provided updates on Liam Gordon and Zech Obiero, who he hopes to have back available for selection around Christmas. Eli King is expected to miss the remainder of the season, having had an operation on his ACL.

Lamin Sillah is back in contention after training during the week. The Nottingham Forest Loanee missed the previous two fixtures due to a hand injury. Cameron Antwi has been dealing with a foot injury.

Shrewsbury’s Michael Golding will be pushing to be involved, having scored in the EFL Trophy victory against Everton Under-21s in midweek. Former Gill and academy graduate Joe Gbode, who recently returned from an injury, could be named in the matchday squad.

Kian McMahon-Brown is available for selection after the red card he received against Rotherham was overturned following an appeal. Saturday’s game will come too soon for George Lloyd, who was stretchered off in the draw with Rotherham due to a head and neck injury.

Manager Comments:

Gavin Cowan: “They are a good side. They can mix it up physically. You can see that they want to play, there is a lot of interchange and quick, clever football. It is going to be a tough task.”

Gareth Ainsworth: “Gavin Cowan is a good manager. He has gotten used to league football. They have some good players and are solid. They have three very good centre halves at the heart of their defence, who will eat a lot up, and they transition very well. We have to win some of the battles.”

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

Previous Meetings:

Saturday’s meeting will be the 74th fixture between the two clubs. Shrewsbury leads the head-to-head with 26 victories to Gillingham’s 21. There have also been 26 draws.

The two sides played out a draw in September 2018, with plenty of late drama at The Croud Meadow. Brandon Hanlan opened the scoring in the 18th minute. Max Ehmer did well to turn and get a shot away, which Joel Coleman in the Shrewsbury goal could not keep hold of. The rebound eventually fell to Hanlan, who managed to bundle it home.

Lee Angol brought the hosts back on level terms just short of the hour. A cross from the left bounced into the forward’s path, and he struck it first time on the turn, sending it into the right corner of the goal.

With two minutes remaining, Ollie Norburn gave Shrewsbury the lead. Alex Gillead delivered a low centre, which Norburn ran onto, squeezing his low drive underneath the diving Tomas Holy.

The scoring was not over, as Tom Eaves equalised in the closing moments. The forward did brilliantly to win possession off a defender on the edge of the penalty area before making his way into the box. Eaves directed his shot towards the far bottom left corner, with Coleman unable to get to it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Apa4pYZuafQ

Tickets:

We have been allocated in the region of 500 tickets for our trip to The Croud Meadow. Gills supporters will be situated in the SY Comms North Stand, which is behind one of the goals.

Tickets can only be purchased through the Shrewsbury Town website. The link is below.

BUY TICKETS | SHREWSBURY TOWN V GILLINGHAM

For ticket prices, coach travel information 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:

Shrewsbury Town - 10/11

Draw - 13/5

Gillingham - 27/10

Match Officials: